Dr. Naveen Poonai holds a virtual reality headset. Photo courtesy of Lawson Health Research Institute. Dr. Naveen Poonai holds a virtual reality headset. Photo courtesy of Lawson Health Research Institute.
London

Study to look at using VR to help kids manage pain

Researchers in London are looking at how technology can help young patients endure painful prodedures.

A study is underway involving researchers at the Lawson Health Research Institute and Children's Hospital at the London Health Sciences Centre. Researchers are focusing on how virtual reality might help pediatric patients whose treatement involves ports, which are small reservoirs that sit under the skin and allow access to blood with the use of a needle. They are most commonly used in pediatric cancer patients.

“This can be very distressing for a patient and it can set the tone for their entire clinic day and course of treatment,” said Dr. Alexandra Zorzi, Lawson associate scientist and pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital. “Minimizing the stress, anxiety, and pain of the procedure is key to avoiding a negative experience.”

The study involves 90 patients who have medical ports. They will be split into three groups, one of which will use a virtual reality headset that will allow them to play interactive games, potentially distracting them from the discomfort associated with their treatment. A second group will use tablets, while the third will use distractions that are not technology based. The patients' response to procedures will be recorded and compared. The data will then be used to determine which of the three distractions led to the best outcomes.

It's expected the study will be finished by the end of 2022.

“We have plans in place to allow whatever we find as the best option to be part of routine care for kids needing port access,” said researcher Dr. Naveen Poonai. “We are also speaking with various medical teams to determine how we can incorporate this into practices across the hospital.”

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