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| Dr Evelyn Chan, patient Nia Ashton and Dr Erin Mills |
Needle procedures, including intravenous cannulas and blood
tests can be extremely distressing for many children, and can lead to life-long
anxiety.
For the first time, a collaborative research team led by
Monash University Research Fellow Dr Evelyn Chan, is investigating the use of
virtual reality (VR) headsets to reduce fear, pain and anxiety associated with
these procedures.
Dr Chan said
current pain management techniques such as local anaesthetic cream or distraction
are inadequate for some children, and may result in the need for restraints
and/or sedation.
“The VR headsets distract children, allowing
them to experience and interact with animated sea-life, including fish,
dolphins and whales, while medical staff take blood or insert an intravenous
cannula,” Dr Chan said.
The VR animations have been created to perfectly coincide with the
procedures being carried out.
“Children ‘feel’ the water while a nurse or doctor prepares and
cleans their hand, and fish gently bite at their hand while a needle is
inserted,” Dr Chan said.
Principal Investigator Dr Erin Mills at Monash Children’s Hospital said VR allows children to
be transported into an engaging and interactive 3D ‘virtual world’ which
provides an escape from the real world where the procedure is being performed.
“The virtual
reality experience has been designed to be immersive, enjoyable and help relax
and reassure the child while medical procedures are taking place,” Dr Mills
said.
Dr Chan said their vision is for every child to have access
to high quality needle pain management, anytime, anywhere - whether they're in
a world-class kid's hospital, a busy pathology clinic, or a remote GP
practice."
"VR has huge potential to
transform patient experiences. One day VR might become a cornerstone of patient
care - helping support patients in every step of their health journey, from
being able to walk through the operating room before their surgery, to
supporting them through their hospital stay, and helping them during recovery
with rehab and preventative health activities," Dr Chan said.
240 patients from the Pathology and the Emergency Departments
at Monash Children’s Hospital are currently being recruited to the study. The Royal Children’s Hospital will open an
arm of the study next month.
More than 30,000
patients presented to Monash Children’s Hospital Emergency Department in the
last 12 months, with 4,500 requiring blood tests.
The Monash research
team includes Dr Erin Mills, Associate Professor Simon Craig, Dr Simon Cohen,
Emma Ramage, Samantha Foster, Ryan Sambell, Michael Hovenden, Dr Evelyn Chan,
and Dr Paul Leong.
