ArticleAnnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England2022
Can virtual reality headsets be used safely as a distraction method for paediatric orthopaedic patients? A feasibility study.
Article in Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Virtual and augmented reality for anxiety reduction in orthopedic patients and providers: a systematic review.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of Virtual Reality vs. Tablet Games for Pain and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Bone Pins Removal: Randomised Clinical Trial.Journal of advanced nursing · 2026Trial
- Entertainment interventions for pediatric fracture patients during cast room procedures: a scoping review.Translational pediatrics · 2026Review
- Using Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Hospital Experience in Paediatric Orthopaedic Patients and Their Parents.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Use of immersive virtual reality to reduce anxiety during complex paediatric dressing changes.BMJ case reports · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionVirtual reality (VR) has been shown to decrease pain and anxiety in clinical areas. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of 'Rescape DR.VR Junior' headset as a distraction method for paediatric orthopaedic patients.
methodsAn internal risk assessment by medical engineers to determine its safety deemed the device safe to be used only in the venepuncture and plaster rooms, while further investigation is needed to establish its safety in the operating theatre/anaesthetic room. A total of 32 children (age range: 2-15 years) took the option to use the device while they underwent venepuncture or a cast procedure. Anxiety scores, measured on a Likert scale, were collected pre and postprocedure. Participants were asked if they would use the device again. Subjective feedback was also collated from the supervising clinical staff.
resultsA total of 66% (21) showed a reduction in anxiety scores, 28% (9) had no change in score; all scores being mild, 1-3 on the Likert scale; 6% (2) showed an increase in postprocedure score. All participants stated they would use the device again. One patient declined the device. Health professionals also gave positive subjective feedback and they would all use it again with their paediatric patients. No adverse events were recorded.
conclusionThe 'Rescape DR.VR Junior' headset has been found to be a safe and feasible distraction method for use in children in the venepuncture and plaster room. Further research is required to assess its safety and effectiveness in other clinical areas, including the paediatric orthopaedic operating theatre.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.