Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35993398›Full record

SynthesisPaediatric anaesthesia2022

Virtual reality in pediatrics, effects on pain and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis update.

Floris Q Tas, Cynthia A M van Eijk, Lonneke M Staals, Jeroen S Legerstee, Bram Dierckx

6 registry-linked trialsOpen access · hybridAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Paediatric anaesthesia, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 6 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 63 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
63citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
41.9field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

NCT05094141 nacompletednot on this map

Randomized Pilot Crossover Study Comparing Virtual Reality (VR) and Non-VR Distraction for Decreasing Preoperative/Procedural Anxiety as a Function of the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS)

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterRan2021 to 2024Enrolled89ConditionsPreoperative AnxietyArmsVirtual reality
NCT05743062 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Awe Inducing Elements in Virtual Reality Applications: A Prospective Study of Hospitalized Children

TypeinterventionalSponsorStanford UniversityRan2023 to 2023Enrolled202ConditionsAweArmsVirtual Reality, Control
NCT06248216 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Implementation of an At-Home Multimodal Integrative Therapy Via Virtual Reality for Patients With Cancer-Treatment Associated Symptoms

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of Maryland, BaltimoreRan2024 to 2027Enrolled30ConditionsCancer, Cancer Pain, Virtual RealityArmsRelievrx, Audio Mp4
NCT07173231 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Comparisons Between Virtual Reality and Hypno-Virtual Reality for Procedural Pain and Anxiety During a Diagnostic Hysteroscopy: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorSt. Justine's HospitalRan2025 to 2026Enrolled45ConditionsHysteroscopy, Anxiety, PainArmsImmersive Virtual Reality Distraction (IVR), Hypno-Virtual Reality Distraction (HVR), Usual Care Group
NCT07737886 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects of Virtual Reality for Pain, Anxiety and Recovery Enhancement of Children Post-Scoliosis Surgical Repair: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Parallel Trial (VR-SPINE)

TypeinterventionalSponsorSt. Justine's HospitalRan2026 to 2028Enrolled24ConditionsScoliosis PatientsArmsVirtual Reality, Standard medical treatment
NCT07752680 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of Virtual Reality Headset Use on Pain, Comfort, and Psychosocial Symptoms in Children Undergoing Hypospadias Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

TypeinterventionalSponsorIstanbul Medipol University HospitalRan2025 to 2026Enrolled62ConditionsPain, Comfort, Psychosocial SymptomsArmsVirtual reality headset, routine clinical practice
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

63 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 126 citations in OpenAlex.

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  20. Upright positioning in pediatric radiotherapy: rationale, safety considerations and a research roadmap.Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology · 2026
    Article

3 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Floris Q TasChild- and Youth psychiatry, Sophia Children's Hospital - Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-1850-9051
Cynthia A M van EijkChild- and Youth psychiatry, Sophia Children's Hospital - Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Lonneke M StaalsChild- and Youth psychiatry, Sophia Children's Hospital - Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-7867-971X
Jeroen S LegersteeChild- and Youth psychiatry, Sophia Children's Hospital - Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Bram DierckxChild- and Youth psychiatry, Sophia Children's Hospital - Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Erasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMedical procedures are often accompanied by pain and anxiety in pediatric patients. A relatively new technique to reduce pediatric pain and anxiety is virtual reality. Virtual reality is both applied as a distraction tool and as an exposure tool to prepare patients for medical procedures. Research into the application of virtual reality in medical settings is rapidly evolving. This meta-analysis is an update of the meta-analysis of Eijlers et al. investigating the effectiveness of virtual reality as an intervention tool on pain and anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing medical procedures.

methodsWe searched the databases Embase, Medline, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and PsycINFO. For each of these databases, different search strategies were developed. The search period from the meta-analysis from Eijlers et al., reaching until April 2018, was extended to December 2020. Pain and anxiety outcomes during medical procedures were compared for virtual reality and standard care conditions for various medical procedures.

resultsThe search yielded 1824 articles, of which 13 met our inclusion criteria. Combined with 13 articles of Eijlers' review study, this resulted in 26 articles. Virtual reality was applied as distraction (n = 23) during medical procedures or as exposure (n = 4) before medical procedures. The effect of virtual reality distraction was mostly studied in patients during venous access (n = 10). The overall weighted standardized mean difference for virtual reality distraction was -0.67 (95% CI, -0.89 to -0.45; p < .001) on patient-reported pain (based on 21 studies) and -0.74 (95% CI, -1.00 to -0.48; p < .001) on patient-reported anxiety (based on 10 studies). The effect of virtual reality as an exposure tool on patient-reported anxiety was significant too (standardized mean difference = -0.58; 95% CI, -1.15 to -0.01; p < .05). DISCUSSION: The current updated systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that virtual reality is a useful tool to reduce pain and anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing a range of medical procedures as it significantly decreases pain and anxiety outcomes when compared to care as usual.

Indexed as

PediatricsVirtual RealityAnxietyChildHumansPainPain Managementanesthesia < Auditchild < Agepain < Complicationsresearch

Identifiers

PMID35993398
OpenAlexW4292603262

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

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.