VR for Children During Procedures: What the Evidence Says and How to Assess Suitability

An immersive experience can direct a child's attention to other content during preparation or a procedure. It does not replace an age-appropriate explanation, connection with the team, pain management or a medical decision. Some children will want to try it; others will prefer to see the room or maintain eye contact. Start with the child's choice and suitability for the procedure, not the assumption that headsets suit everyone.

A 2023 randomized trial by Wong and Choi involved 149 children aged 4–12 at a hospital in Hong Kong. A group receiving an age-appropriate experience with procedural information and distraction reported less pain and anxiety than those receiving standard care. The study examined a specific intervention under defined conditions, not the ARVR system. Read the study in JAMA Network Open.

Another multicenter study of 83 children aged 7–12 found improvements in reported pain and family satisfaction; the difference in anxiety was not statistically significant. The results highlight that pain, anxiety and cooperation are separate measures, and none can be guaranteed together for every child. View the multicenter study.

The team should check the device and content instructions, suitability for the child’s age and condition, and the ability to maintain communication during the procedure. An age included in a study does not authorize use of every device. Findings about blood tests cannot be generalized to every other procedure. Explain how to stop and return the child’s attention to the team if they do not wish to continue, feel uncomfortable or need direct contact. Local procedures and professional judgment determine how the system is used.

1. Before the visit: The operator knows the content, how to end it and the cleaning instructions for the device.
2. With the child and parent: Explain what they will see and confirm that the child wants to try it, without promising a fixed time to become calm.
3. During the procedure: The team maintains the ability to communicate with the child and identify discomfort, using professional judgment.
4. At the end: Review the experience, record any difficulty or interruption, and clean according to manufacturer instructions and organizational procedures.

Public media coverage documents use of the distraction solution during children’s blood tests at Maccabi clinics. This documents product use, not a controlled trial or a measurement of its effect at every clinic. It is also not a video of the ultrasound simulator. View the use case and published video. In a demonstration, examine content selection, operation and stopping the experience—not just what it looks like inside the headset.

Choose a measure appropriate to the age group and objective with the team, and record it consistently. Keep pain or anxiety measured with the chosen tool separate from willingness to use the system, procedure completion, staff time and technical problems. Record refusals and early stops too. Compare similar populations and procedures; without a comparison group, present findings as a description of use rather than proof of causation. Before collecting information about children, arrange approvals, consent, data access and retention policies according to organizational requirements. Do not send such information through the website contact form.

• Which content and languages are actually available in the proposed version?
• What age and suitability instructions apply to the headset and content?
• How do you stop the experience and maintain communication with the child?
• What requires internet access and what can run locally?
• How should contact surfaces and lenses be cleaned for this device?
• Is any data stored, and how is its use defined?