How Young is Too Young for Virtual Reality? Determining Usability and Acceptability in Ages 2-6 in the Emergency Department

University of British Columbia

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Child, Preschool

Treatments: Device: Virtual Reality

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03692377

H18-01924

Details and patient eligibility

About

Children who present to the emergency department often require painful procedures (intravenous catheterization, laceration repair, fracture reduction, etc.). Virtual reality (VR) has been presented as a way of managing pain and anxiety in children undergoing painful procedures but most studies are limited to children 6 or older. The present study seeks to determine the youngest age (2-6) of future subjects in research of VR and clinical care.

Virtual Reality is an immersive experience using sight, sound, and position sense. Using VR may enhance distraction during the painful procedure and may reduce attention to pain.

Investigators will instruct and observe children age 2-6 in using a VR device and document how easy the device is to use for the child. The children will have the opportunity to select an application and play with the device for 10 minutes before being asked about their experience with the device. Parents/Guardians will also be asked about their child's experience with the device.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 2 to 6 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Children age 2-6 years of age
2. Patients arrived with a legal guardian to the emergency department
3. Parents will sign a consent form and children will agree verbally to participate
4. Triage category 4 or 5 (lowest acuity)

Exclusion criteria

1. Children with conditions that may prohibit participation or evaluation of the procedure (such as developmental delay, autism, neurological or other condition limiting communication)
2. Facial features or injury prohibiting wearing the VR goggles
3. Painful procedures in the emergency before being approached (such as blood testing, IV, catheterization, immunization, laceration repair)
4. Child is suffering pain or distress at a level that prohibit focusing on the study for 20 minutes, as assessed by the research assistant

Trial design

100 participants in 1 patient group

Children Aged 2-6

Description:

Children 2 to 6 years of age who are arriving with a guardian to the Emergency Department with a low acuity condition (Canadian Triage scale (CTAS) 4 or 5) and are waiting to be seen by the doctor, or are waiting for test results.

Treatment:

Device: Virtual Reality