About this trial
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.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Children aged 6 to 12 years
Acute burn injury requiring a routine dressing change, either during inpatient hospitalization or during a scheduled outpatient clinic visit
Able to communicate verbally and follow simple instructions
Medically stable as determined by attending physician (no acute respiratory distress, hemodynamic instability, or active sepsis)
Disqualifiers
Burns involving the face, head, or ears that prevent safe VR headset placement
Cognitive, motor, visual, or hearing impairments interfering with study participation
History of motion sickness, seizure disorder, or migraines triggered by visual stimuli
Inability to maintain sitting or semi-upright position during the procedure
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Virtual Reality (VR) Distraction
- Standard Burn Dressing Care