An immersive, virtual reality experience to educate pediatric patients before a chest X-ray helped reduce their anxiety and distress as well as the procedure time, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Researchers conducted the study at a hospital in South Korea. They studied 112 children, ages 4 to 8 years, who had chest X-rays from July 20- Sept. 11, 2018. Ninety-nine children were included in the final analysis.
The patients were divided into two groups. One group of 50 patients received simple verbal instructions; the other group of 49 kids were shown a three-minute virtual reality video explaining the chest X-ray process.
The mean score for anxiety and distress and need for parental presence were lower among patients who saw the virtual reality video, compared to patients who did not. Also, procedure time for the virtual reality group was 55.1 seconds, compared to 75 seconds for the other group.
The mean parental satisfaction scores were higher for the virtual reality group.
More articles on healthcare quality:
Connecticut reports first EEE death since 2013
LA hospital resumes elective surgeries after mold contamination
77% of vaping-related illnesses linked to THC products, CDC says