Virtual Reality Distraction During Pediatric Intravenous Line Placement

Children often describe procedures involving needles as the most stressful portion of the
hospital experience. 1,2 Many studies involving the perception of pain have highlighted the
importance of attention for the perception of pain, and, conversely, the benefit of
distraction for decreasing pain perception. 3,4 Virtual reality technologies (VR) have been
shown to mitigate the experience of pain and anxiety in patients undergoing procedures in a
number of different ways. 5,6 While small studies have demonstrated the use of VR to be
effective in diminishing pain during intravenous (IV) placement for outpatient imaging in
pediatric patients aged 8-12, there have not been large-scale studies assessing the use of VR
during IV placement in the Pediatric Emergency Department. 7 Studies examining the use of VR
during venipuncture and IV placement also frequently focus on self-reported or
parent-reported pain, rather than objectively quantifying number of IV sticks and time to
successful IV placement.8 Additionally, the pediatric age ranges which benefit from VR have
not been well-established, with some studies citing benefits only in patients over 10 years
of age, and others showing improvements in all age groups.7,9,10

This study aims to prospectively investigate the use of virtual reality headsets on the
placement of IVs in a pediatric emergency department, by comparing the first stick success
rate, total number of attempts, and the time to successful IV placement between patients who
use virtual reality headset technology during the placement and those who receive the
standard of care IV placement when child life ( individuals with special training in aiding
and augmenting pediatric coping skills) is not available. The investigators will also compare
the patient and parent perception of pain and anxiety associated with the IV placement in
both study groups. Finally, by detailing which medications have been given prior to use of
the VR for IV placement the investigators may evaluate for possible synergistic effects of VR
with prior medication administration.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patient aged 4-17 years

- Requiring IV placement

- Child Life unavailable

Exclusion Criteria:

- Previous enrollment in the study

- Physically/ developmentally unable to tolerate headset

- Skin/eye pathology

- Critically ill patient

- Language other than English or Spanish

- Student Nurse placing IV