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Virtual Reality for Pain and Fear in Children With Burns
Sponsor: Mansoura University
Summary
Burn injuries are very painful for children, especially during dressing changes when the wound is cleaned and re-bandaged. This procedure, while necessary, can cause pain, fear, and distress that may make children afraid of future treatments. Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that uses a headset to show an immersive, interactive 3D world. It can distract children from painful medical procedures. This study aims to find out if using VR during burn dressing changes can reduce pain, fear, and behavioral distress in children aged 6 to 12 years. Half of the children will receive standard burn care plus VR distraction during their dressing change. The other half will receive standard care only. The study will take place at the Burns and Plastic Surgery Center, Mansoura University, Egypt. Children will be recruited from both inpatient wards and outpatient clinics. Pain will be measured using a number scale, fear using a faces scale, and distress will be observed throughout the procedure. It is expected that children who use VR will report less pain, show less fear, and display less distress during their dressing changes compared to children who receive standard care alone.
Official title: Does Virtual Reality Reduce Pain, Fear, and Behavioral Distress in Children During Burn Dressing Changes? A Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
6 Years - 12 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
80
Start Date
2026-08-01
Completion Date
2026-11-30
Last Updated
2026-08-03
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Virtual Reality (VR) Distraction
A commercially available standalone VR headset with built-in speakers and a 3D display will be used to deliver immersive, interactive, age-appropriate content. The device will be adjusted for each child's head size to ensure comfort and safety. Children will view content selected from a curated library including: interactive games (e.g., age-appropriate puzzles and engaging activities); exploration experiences (e.g., underwater worlds, space adventures); and calming environments (e.g., nature scenes, relaxing landscapes). Children will be offered a choice of 2-3 age-appropriate VR experiences based on their preferences and developmental level to maximize engagement. The VR intervention will be initiated 2-3 minutes before the dressing change begins and will continue throughout the entire procedure
Standard Burn Dressing Care
Routine burn dressing care provided according to standard institutional protocol at the Burns and Plastic Surgery Center, Mansoura University, Egypt. This includes: pre-procedural analgesic administration according to hospital protocol (e.g., oral or intravenous analgesics); psychological preparation by nursing staff; standard wound care procedures (wound cleansing, debridement, and dressing application); and pharmacological pain management as clinically indicated.
Locations (1)
Burns and Plastic Surgery Center, Mansoura University
Al Mansurah, Egypt