Efficacy of VR and Buzzy on Pain and Anxiety

January 4, 2022 updated by: Diler Yilmaz, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University

The Effects of Virtual Reality Glasses and External Cold and Vibration on Procedural Pain and Anxiety in Children During Venous Phlebotomy: Randomized Controlled Trial

The study was designed as a randomized controlled experimental research with the purpose of determining the effect of distraction by using external cold and vibration-Buzzy and VR on reducing procedural pain and anxiety in children aged 7 to 12 years during phlebotomy injection.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

In the literature, it is stated that nurses should use pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods in pain and anxiety management in painful procedures. Evidence-based studies are needed to show the effectiveness of non-pharmacological methods in reducing pain during invasive procedures and to investigate the effects of easy-to-apply methods on pain. In light of this information, this study aimed to compare the effect of distraction by using Buzzy and VR on reducing procedural pain and anxiety in children aged 7 to 12 years during phlebotomy.

This study is a prospective, randomized and controlled trial. Children aged 7 to 12 years who required phlebotomy were divided into three groups; buzzy, virtual reality, and controls. Data were obtained through face-to-face interviews with the children, their parents, and the observer before and after the procedure. The children's pain levels were assessed and reported by the parents and observers and the children themselves who self-reported using Wong-Baker FACES. The children's anxiety levels were also assessed using the Children's Fear Scale.

The study population consisted of children aged 7 to 12 years who presented to the children's phlebotomy room of the hospital.

Sample of the study consisted of a total of 120 children who met the sample selection criteria and were selected via randomization method.

Children were randomized into three groups: Buzzy (n= 40), VR group (n= 40), and the control group (n= 40).

Data were collected using the Information Form, Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, Children's Fear Scale.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

120

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Bandirma
      • Balikesir, Bandirma, Turkey, 10200
        • Bandirma Onyedi Eylül University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

7 years to 12 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criterial:

The sample selection criteria of the study were as follows: the children who

  • were in the age group of 7-12 years,
  • Due to undergo phlebotomy for blood testing,

Exclusion Criteria:

  • had chronic diseases,
  • had neuro-developmentally delayed,
  • had visual, audio, or speech impairments,
  • were hospital stay for treatment,
  • had a history of sedative, analgesic or narcotic use within 24 hours before admission

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Buzzy Group
In this group external cold and vibration-Buzzy was applied to the children during phlebotomy.
The Buzzy device was placed 5-10 cm above the injection area and making sure that it was in contact with the skin. The ice pack was kept in the deep freezer and placed into the device before the application. Buzzy was introduced to the children pre-procedure. Cold application and vibration were started pre-procedure and maintained until the procedure was completed. Following the Buzzy application, the device was wiped with 70% alcohol and used for other children. The Buzzy devices were kept in the deep freeze and refrozen. The same person conducted the pain reduction methods during phlebotomy.
Experimental: Virtual Realitiy-VR Group
In this group Virtual Realitiy-VR was applied to the children during phlebotomy.
VR glasses were introduced to the children pre-procedure. The children were made to watch a video with VR glasses 2-3 minutes before starting the application and it continued until the end of the phlebotomy procedure (three minutes on average). 3D video suggestions (Space Experience, Blue Whale 360 VR Experience) were offered to the children before the phlebotomy procedure and they were asked to choose one of them.
No Intervention: Control Group
In this group, children received routine phlebotomy procedure

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale
Time Frame: Through painful procedure completion, an average of 10 minutes
In the study, pain level evaluations, the children's self-evaluations, parents' evaluations and the researcher's evaluations were carried out using the WB-FACES scale. This scale was developed by Donna Wong and Connie Morain Baker in 1988. The scale is graded between 0-10 points. A smiling face on the far left symbolizes "no pain" (0 very happy/no pain) and the pain increases from left to right. On the other hand, a crying face on the far right symbolizes "unbearable pain" (10 'hurts worst'). As the numbers increase in this scoring system, facial expressions also change referring to an increase in pain levels.
Through painful procedure completion, an average of 10 minutes
Children's Fear Scale
Time Frame: Through painful procedure completion, an average of 10 minutes
CFS is used for measuring the child's anxiety level. CFS is a scale which makes an evaluation from 0 to 4 consisting of five facial expressions drawn to show expressions that vary from neutral expression (0=no anxiety) to scared face (4=severe anxiety).
Through painful procedure completion, an average of 10 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 1, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 21, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

August 31, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 16, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 4, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

January 5, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 5, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 4, 2022

Last Verified

January 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • BANU-D-YILMAZ-002

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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