{"title":"Using virtual reality to enhance procedure-related experiences in adult emergency departments: A qualitative study","authors":"Hui (Grace) Xu , Jed Duff , Vicki Binnie","doi":"10.1016/j.ienj.2025.101692","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Needle phobia is a common issue affecting many patients in emergency departments (EDs), including adults. Virtual reality (VR) has rapidly advanced in recent years and is increasingly used in patient care. However, there is limited research exploring the subjective experiences of VR users in this context.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study aims to explore the experiences of both patients and clinicians during painful needle-related procedures, as well as identify the barriers and facilitators associated with the use of VR to manage these procedures in ED.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>An exploratory qualitative study.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>The study was conducted in one adult ED in Australia in 2024. VR was used as an intervention to help manage needle phobia among adult patients with moderate or high anxiety levels. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten patients and seven ED clinicians. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Overall, participants reported positive experiences with the innovative technology. Four themes developed from patient interviews included <em>Communication with clinicians; The influence of current and past experiences</em>; <em>The VR experience</em>; and <em>Considerations for VR implementation.</em> Three themes emerged from Clinician interviews including: <em>Communication with patients</em>; <em>The VR experience;</em> and <em>Considerations for VR implementation.</em></div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study offers valuable preliminary insight into VR experiences from both patient and clinician perspectives in the ED setting.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>Clinicians and researchers should consider the identified barriers, facilitators, and potential solutions when incorporating VR interventions into their clinical practice and research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48914,"journal":{"name":"International Emergency Nursing","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101692"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Emergency Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755599X25001235","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
Needle phobia is a common issue affecting many patients in emergency departments (EDs), including adults. Virtual reality (VR) has rapidly advanced in recent years and is increasingly used in patient care. However, there is limited research exploring the subjective experiences of VR users in this context.
Aim
This study aims to explore the experiences of both patients and clinicians during painful needle-related procedures, as well as identify the barriers and facilitators associated with the use of VR to manage these procedures in ED.
Design
An exploratory qualitative study.
Method
The study was conducted in one adult ED in Australia in 2024. VR was used as an intervention to help manage needle phobia among adult patients with moderate or high anxiety levels. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten patients and seven ED clinicians. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data.
Findings
Overall, participants reported positive experiences with the innovative technology. Four themes developed from patient interviews included Communication with clinicians; The influence of current and past experiences; The VR experience; and Considerations for VR implementation. Three themes emerged from Clinician interviews including: Communication with patients; The VR experience; and Considerations for VR implementation.
Conclusion
This study offers valuable preliminary insight into VR experiences from both patient and clinician perspectives in the ED setting.
Implications
Clinicians and researchers should consider the identified barriers, facilitators, and potential solutions when incorporating VR interventions into their clinical practice and research.
期刊介绍:
International Emergency Nursing is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to nurses and other professionals involved in emergency care. It aims to promote excellence through dissemination of high quality research findings, specialist knowledge and discussion of professional issues that reflect the diversity of this field. With an international readership and authorship, it provides a platform for practitioners worldwide to communicate and enhance the evidence-base of emergency care.
The journal publishes a broad range of papers, from personal reflection to primary research findings, created by first-time through to reputable authors from a number of disciplines. It brings together research from practice, education, theory, and operational management, relevant to all levels of staff working in emergency care settings worldwide.