Gurney Journey: Virtual Reality Distraction

Children's Hospital Colorado

Status: Completed

Conditions: Procedures Requiring Anesthesia; Dental Caries in Children; Gastrointestinal Surgery; Dental Diseases

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard Child Life Preparation and Support; Device: Standard Child Life Preparation and Support + Meta Quest 2 VR headset with Gurney Journey (a mixed reality experience)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06283108

23-1183

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to determine whether a software virtual reality (VR) program provided during transportation to anesthesia induction reduces anxiety before the procedure, and compliance in pediatric patients. This study aims to measure the anxiety of patients as they arrive before their procedure, when parting from their parents for transportation to the procedure room, and when anesthesia is provided. Compliance during anesthesia induction will also be monitored. Participants will be randomly placed into to one of two groups. Group 1 will receive standard care from a Certified Child Life Specialist prior to their surgery. Group 2 will receive standard care from a Certified Child Life Specialist and distraction with a novel virtual reality software program.

Full description

The aim of this study is to determine whether a novel software virtual reality (VR) program provided during transition from periop to the procedure room and anesthesia induction reduces preoperative anxiety, and induction compliance in pediatric patients. This study aims to specifically monitor and measure the anxiety of patients as they arrive at the preoperative suite, when parting from their parents for transportation to the procedure room, and at induction of anesthesia. Compliance during anesthesia induction will also be monitored. Participants will be randomized to one of two groups. Group 1 will receive standard care during their surgery. Group 2 will receive standard care and distraction with a novel virtual reality software program. We hypothesize that anxiety will be reduced, and anesthesia compliance will improve for participants in Group 2.

Enrollment: 58 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 17 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Ages 5-17 years old.
• Patients undergoing general anesthesia with mask induction for dental or gastrointestinal procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Cognitive impairment that will impact the use of the VR headset or interaction with the game.
• Participants who cannot comfortably wear the VR headset.
• Visual impairment that would hinder use of software program.
• Patients receiving general anesthesia via IV.
• Parent accompanies patient back for anesthesia induction.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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58 participants in 2 patient groups

Virtual Reality Experimental

Experimental group

Description:

Standard CCLS care and distraction with Virtual Reality

Treatment:

Device: Standard Child Life Preparation and Support + Meta Quest 2 VR headset with Gurney Journey (a mixed reality experience)

Standard CCLS care

Active Comparator group

Description:

Standard CCLS care

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Child Life Preparation and Support