“Passive or interactive virtual reality? The effectiveness for pain and anxiety reduction in pediatric patients”

Abstract Invasive techniques such as venipuncture are painful procedures causing stress and anxiety, both in pediatric patients their carers. For this reason, efforts being made to develop mitigating strategies for the patient’s pain anxiety during performance. To analyze evaluate effectiveness of use Virtual Reality distraction a measure reduction parents. In addition, effects two modes (passive vs. interactive) were compared. A quasi-experimental study was carried out emergency department tertiary referral hospital north Spain. The participants children who underwent blood extraction vascular cannulation. From 124 patients, 51.6% ( n = 64) girls 48.4% 60) boys p 0.574). mean age 8.4 years (SD: 4.1). level experienced 2.33 0.76) interactive VR group 88) versus 2.67 1.35) with passive 36) 0.008); presence 27.3% 24) cases treated 88.9% 32) 0.000). virtual reality is an effective method reduce levels its population aged 7–15 greater.