Effects of Virtual Reality During Pediatric Vaccinations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) distraction offered by a child life specialist on minimizing pain in children receiving a vaccination. It was hypothesized that children who received child life-led VR distraction would report less pain and display fewer pain behaviors during a vaccination than those in a control group. Ninety children between the ages of 4 and 12 were randomly assigned to either a VR distraction group or a control group. The VR distraction group engaged with a VR device facilitated by a child life specialist during the vaccination, and the control group received standard care. Children self-reported their experienced pain using a facial analogue scale. Caregivers and a research observer assessed the child’s pain and pain behaviors using a facial analogue scale and a behavioral observation tool. Although children did not self-report less pain, there was a significant difference in children’s pain behaviors displayed during the vaccinations, with children in the child life-led VR distraction group displaying significantly less pain as noted by caregiver and researcher observation. In conclusion, VR distraction led by a child life specialist was found to decrease pain behaviors displayed by children; therefore, this type of distraction may be a helpful intervention for children who are receiving a vaccination.