Feasibility of a VR Intervention to Decrease Anxiety in Children with Tumors Undergoing CVC Dressing

Luisa Russo, Alberto Eugenio Tozzi, Angela Mastronuzzi, Ileana Croci, Francesco Gesualdo, Ilaria Campagna, Kiersten P. Miller, Italo Ciaralli, Matteo Amicucci, Domitilla Elena Secco, Vito Andrea Dell’Anna (), Adele Ripà and Elisa Piccinelli
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Luisa Russo: Multifactorial and Complex Diseases Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Alberto Eugenio Tozzi: Multifactorial and Complex Diseases Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Angela Mastronuzzi: Department of Onco Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Ileana Croci: Multifactorial and Complex Diseases Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Francesco Gesualdo: Multifactorial and Complex Diseases Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Ilaria Campagna: Multifactorial and Complex Diseases Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Kiersten P. Miller: Multifactorial and Complex Diseases Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Italo Ciaralli: Department of Onco Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Matteo Amicucci: Department of Onco Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Domitilla Elena Secco: Department of Onco Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Vito Andrea Dell’Anna: Department of Onco Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Adele Ripà: Department of Onco Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy
Elisa Piccinelli: Department of Onco Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00165 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-8

Abstract: Virtual reality (VR) represents a promising digital intervention for managing distress and anxiety in children with tumors undergoing painful medical procedures. In an experimental cross-over study, we administered a VR intervention consisting of relaxing games during central venous catheter (CVC) dressing. The VR sessions were compared with no-VR during CVC medication. We used the distress thermometer and RCMAS-2 scale to assess distress and anxiety levels. We also explored the satisfaction level in patients and families. We enrolled 22 children. The distress levels after medication were lower in the VR group than in those without VR (VR: median 2; IQR 0–2; no-VR: median 4; IQR: 3–5). No variation in anxiety levels was detected by VR intervention. Satisfaction for using VR was very high in children and their families although a total of 12% of children were disappointed by the effect of VR. Most healthcare workers felt that VR would be useful in routine clinical practice. A VR intervention is highly acceptable, may be efficacious in decreasing distress in children with cancer undergoing painful procedures, but it is less likely that it has a measurable impact on anxiety. Evidence from larger studies is needed to assess VR translation into the clinical workflow.

Keywords: virtual reality; children; cancer; CVC dressing; distress; anxiety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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