Full title: Effectiveness of virtual reality intervention on reducing the pain, anxiety and fear of needle-related procedures in paediatric patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) intervention in the management of pain, anxiety and fear in paediatric patients undergoing needle-related procedures. Design A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data sources A librarian-designed search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, CBM, CNKI, and Wanfang databases was conducted to identify research articles in English or Chinese on RCTs up to February 28, 2022. Review methods Two researchers independently screened eligible articles. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. A fixed- or random-effects meta-analysis model was used to determine the pooled mean difference based on the results of the heterogeneity test. Results A total of 2269 articles were initially screened. The meta-analysis included data from 27 studies representing 2224 participants. Compared with the non-VR group, the VR intervention group significantly reduced pain, anxiety, and fear in paediatric patients who underwent puncture-related procedures. Subgroup analysis showed that VR has advantages over conventional and other distraction methods. Conclusion Paediatric patients undergoing needle-related procedures would benefit from VR interventions for pain, anxiety and fear management. Impact VR intervention has the potential to reduce pain, anxiety and fear in paediatric patients undergoing puncture-related procedures. Future clinical interventions could incorporate VR into puncture procedures as an effective method to reduce negative emotions in children eligible for VR distractions. Patient or Public Contribution Our paper is a systematic review and meta-analysis and such details don't apply to our work.

Automated summary

This study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) intervention in managing pain, anxiety, and fear in pediatric patients undergoing needle-related procedures. The results showed that compared to the non-VR group, the VR intervention group significantly reduced pain, anxiety, and fear. Subgroup analysis revealed that VR had advantages over conventional and other distraction methods. In conclusion, VR interventions can benefit pediatric patients undergoing needle-related procedures by reducing pain, anxiety, and fear.