einstein (São Paulo). 08/ago/2025;23:eAO1327.

Impact of a serious immersive virtual reality game in managing pain during venous or catheter procedures in Pediatric Oncology

Michelle Zampar

Silva

, Luzia Iara

Pfeifer

, Barbara

Jacomin

, Juliana da Costa

Feitosa

, Raphael de Aro

Sousa

, José Remo Ferreira

Brega

, Davi Casale

Aragon

, Luiz Gonzaga

Tone

, Carlos Alberto

Scrideli

, Elvis Terci

Valera

DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2025AO1327

Highlights

■ Immersive virtual reality reduced heart rate, pain, agitation, and crying during pediatric venipuncture.
■ This technology effectively reduced pain during repeated invasive procedures, including catheter punctures.
■ The serious game strategy is low-cost, easy to implement, and well-suited for pediatric oncology care.

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To analyze the impact of a serious immersive virtual reality game on the physiological and behavioral aspects of pain during peripheral venous access or central catheter puncture in children and adolescents with cancer.

Methods:

This was a longitudinal intervention study that included 50 children and adolescents undergoing cancer therapy and peripheral venipuncture or venous catheter puncture (totally implanted or central venous catheter) at two independent time points (control and experimental intervention). The intervention consisted of playing a serious immersive virtual reality game with three-dimensional goggles and a Bluetooth controller. The patients were monitored for alterations in physiological (heart rate and oxygen saturation) and behavioral (agitation, crying, and pain assessed using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised and Visual Analogue Scale) parameters. An agreement analysis was conducted by calculating the weighted kappa coefficient; p was obtained using Bowker’s symmetry test.

Results:

Use of immersive virtual reality significantly reduced heart rate, improved pain control as assessed by the Faces Pain Scale-Revised, and decreased agitation and crying.

Conclusion:

Serious immersive virtual reality games reduce pain and distress during repetitive and uncomfortable procedures such as venipuncture and venous catheter puncture in children and adolescents with cancer. This strategy is simple to implement, cost-effective, and should be considered by health care services assisting pediatric patients with cancer.

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