M.V. KURSHINA, O.K. GOLOVIN, L.I. MAZUR, V.A. ZHIRNOV

 Samara State Medical University, Samara

Contact details:

Kurshina M.V. — PhD (Medicine), Assistant Lecturer of the Department of Hospital Pediatrics

Address: 165 A Karl Marx St., 443079 Samara, Russian Federation, tel.: + 7-927-653-50-23, e-mail: m.v.kurshina@samsmu.ru

Recently, virtual reality technology has gained significant popularity in medical institutions, including pediatric departments, throughout the world. The review summarizes current data on the use of virtual reality (VR) to reduce acute and chronic pain syndrome in children of different ages. Evidence is presented that virtual reality is a promising innovative technology that offers unique opportunities for pain modulation in pediatrics. It was found that despite the potential advantages of using a virtual environment in children, there are also a number of disadvantages that can be easily solved with the help of modular additions and adaptations to the basic VR unit. This allows the technology to be more effective in various clinical situations. Highly qualified specialists from different parts of the world are working to promote this technology.

The purpose — to summarize current data regarding the effectiveness of using virtual reality to reduce pain in children.

Key words: virtual reality, virtual environment, immersion environment, immersive virtuality, digital technologies, acute pain, chronic pain, procedural pain, fear, anxiety, children.

REFERENCES

1. Vagnoli L., Caprilli S., Vernucci C. et al. Can presence of a dog reduce pain and distress in children during venipuncture? Pain Manag. Nurs, 2015, vol. 16 (2), pp. 89–95.
2. Danilov A.B. Virtual reality as a method for treating pain and affective disorders. Lechenie zabolevaniy nervnoy sistemy, 2014, no. 2 (14), pp. 11–17 (in Russ.).
3. Gerçeker G.Ö., Binay Ş., Bilsin E. et al. Effect of virtual reality and external cold and vibration on pain in children aged 7 to 12 years during phlebotomy: a randomized controlled trial. J. Perianesthesia Nurs, 2018, vol. 33, pp. 981–989.
4. Schneider S.M., Workman M.L. Effects of virtual reality on symptom distress in children receiving chemotherapy. CyberPsychology Behav, 1999, vol. 2, pp. 125–134.
5. Yang J.H., Ryu J.J., Nam E. et al. Preoperative virtual reality magnetic resonance imaging on preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery: a randomized controlled study. Arthroscopy, 2019, vol. 35 (8), pp. 2394–2399.
6. Hoffman H.G. Virtual reality: a new tool for interdisciplinary psychological research. CyberPsychology Behav, 1998, vol. 1, pp. 195–200.
7. Bofanova N.S., Tychkov A.Yu., Dabaeva L.Kh., Kotova M.A. Virtual reality technology in the treatment of drug-induced headache (description of a clinical observation). Rossiyskiy zhurnal boli, 2023, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 33–38 (in Russ.).
8. Woodin K.A., Rodewald L.E., Humiston S.G. et al. Physician and parent opinions: are children becoming pincushions from immunizations? Szilagyi Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med, 1995, vol. 149, pp. 845–849.
9. Kleinknecht R.A., Lenz J. Fear of blood/injury, syncope and circumstantial avoidance, and causal patterns: a family correspondence study. Behav. Res. Ther, 1989, vol. 27, pp. 537–547.
10. Chad R., Emaan S., Gillian O. The headset effect provides the appearance of distraction from fear and pain in children during immunization. Pain Management, 2018, vol. 8 (3), pp. 175–179.
11. Won A.S., Bailey J., Bailenson J. et al. Immersive virtual reality for pediatric pain. Children (Basel), 2017, vol. 4 (7), p. 52.
12. Tas F.Q., van Eyck C.A.M., Staals L.M. et al. Pediatric virtual reality effects on pain and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis update. Pediatric Anesthesia, 2022, vol. 32, pp. 1292–1304.
13. Gao Y., Xu Y., Liu N. et al. Effectiveness of a virtual reality intervention in reducing pain, anxiety, and fear of needle-related procedures in pediatric patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Adv. Nursing, 2023, vol. 79, pp. 15–30.
14. Chen Y.J., Cheng S.F., Li P.C. et al. Distracting children using virtual reality during intravenous injections in the emergency department: a randomized trial. J. Clin. Nurs, 2019, vol. 29, pp. 503–510.
15. Ozalp Gerceker G., Ayar D., Ozdemir E.Z. et al. Effect of virtual reality on pain, fear and anxiety during blood collection in children aged 5–12 years: a randomized controlled trial. J. Clin. Nurs, 2020, vol. 29, pp. 1151–1161.
16. Gold J.I., Mahrer N.E. Is virtual reality ready for prime time in the medical space? A randomized controlled trial of pediatric reality for the treatment of acute procedural pain. J. Child Psychol, 2018, vol. 43, pp. 266–275.
17. Alshatrat S.M., Sabarini J.M., Hammouri H.M. et al. Effect of immersive virtual reality on pain in different dental procedures in children: A pilot study. Int. J. Paediatr. Dent, 2022, vol. 32 (2), pp. 264–272.
18. Shetty V., Suresh L.R., Hegde A.M. Effect of virtual reality distraction on pain and anxiety during dental treatment in 5 to 8 year old children. J. Clin. Pediatr. Dent, 2019, vol. 43 (2), pp. 97–102.
19. Addab S., Hamdy R., Le May S. et al. Use of virtual reality during medical procedures in a pediatric orthopedic unit: a mixed-methods pilot feasibility study. Paediatr. Neonatal. Pain, 2022, vol. 00, pp. 1–15.
20. Le May S., Tsimikalis A., Noel M. et al. Immersive virtual reality versus non-immersive distraction for the treatment of pain in children during bone pin and suture removal: protocol for a randomized clinical trial. J. Adv. Nurs, 2021, vol. 77, pp. 439–447.
21. Organization of the preanalytical stage with centralization of laboratory tests. Recommendations were developed by a group of authors: MD, PhD, Professor A.Zh. Taking blood for laboratory tests in pediatric practice. Laboratornaya diagnostika, 2013, no. 3, pp. 40–43 (in Russ.).
22. Sharar S.R., Carrougher G.J., Nakamura D. et al. Factors influencing the efficacy of virtual reality distraction analgesia during postburn physical therapy: preliminary results from 3 ongoing studies. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil, 2007, vol. 88 (12 suppl 2), pp. S43–49.
23. Schmitt Y.S., Hoffman H.G., Blough D.K. et al. A randomized, controlled trial of immersive virtual reality analgesia, during physical therapy for pediatric burns. Burns, 2011, vol. 37 (1), pp. 61–68.
24. Brown N.J., Rodger S., Ware R.S. et al. Efficacy of a children’s procedural preparation and distraction device on healing in acute burn wound care procedures: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 2012, vol. 13, p. 238.
25. Miller K., Roger S., Buccolo S. et al. Multimodal distraction. Using technology to manage the pain of young children with burns. Burns, 2010, vol. 36, pp. 647–658.
26. Ramachandran V.S., Rogers-Ramachandran D. Mirror-induced synesthesia in phantom limbs. Textbook Biol. Sci, 1996, vol. 263, pp. 377–386.
27. Won A.S., Tataru C.A., Cojocaru C.M. et al. Two virtual reality pilot studies for the treatment of pediatric CRPS. Pain Med, 2015, vol. 16 (8), pp. 1644–1647.
28. Biffi E., Beretta E., Cesareo A. et al. An immersive reality platform to improve walking ability in children with brain injuries. Methods Inf. Honey, 2017, vol. 56, pp. 119–126.
29. Meyns P., Pans L., Plasmans K. et al. Effect of additional virtual reality training on balance in children with cerebral palsy after lower limb surgery: a feasibility study. Games Health J, 2017, vol. 6, pp. 39–48.