Effect of Immersive Virtual Reality on Anxiety Among School-Age Children During Vein Puncture

Abstract

Introduction: Venipuncture is a frequently performed invasive procedure that commonly leads to pain and emotional discomfort in children. The experience of pain is personal and subjective, influenced by emotional responses, physical status, cognitive understanding, and socio-cultural background. Distraction strategies help minimize procedural distress by shifting the child’s focus away from the painful stimulus, thereby decreasing anxiety and stress during invasive interventions. The study aimed to determine the level of anxiety experienced by school-age children during venipuncture.

Methodology: A quantitative research approach was employed using a pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design. Sixty school-age children were selected through a purposive sampling technique. Data collection tools included a structured demographic questionnaire and the Three-Faces Facial Affective Scale (FAS) to measure anxiety levels during venipuncture. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.

Results: The results showed that the mean anxiety score with standard deviation during the pretest (24.6 ± 4.8) was higher compared to the post-test mean score (15.2± 3.9). The computed t-value (t = 11.62) at p < 0.001 indicated a statistically highly significant reduction in anxiety following the intervention.

Conclusion: The study concluded that immersive virtual reality is a practical, effective, and well-accepted non-pharmacological intervention for reducing anxiety associated with venipuncture among school-age children.