Effect of Using Virtual Reality on Pain Management During Wound Dressing In Burn Patients

Background : Virtual reality technology has been shown to be effective in reducing pain and anxiety in burn patients. Aim: Evaluate the effect of using virtual reality on pain management during wound dressing in burn patients. Design: A Quasi-experimental design was utilized for this study. Setting: The study was conducted in Ahl Masr Hospital. Subjects : Purposive samples of 40 patients with burn injuries. Tools of data collection. Tool I: Structured interview Questionnaire which consists of 2 parts : Part 1 : Demographic characteristics Assessment -Medical Data. Part 2: Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI), Tool II: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain scale. Results: of this study showed that 40% of patients in the virtual reality did not have pain and 30% had only moderate pain during dressing change compared to37.5% in the patients without virtual reality burn wound dressing had only no pain. In addition, the severe pain during dressing change reduced in the using virtual reality to 35% compared to 25% in the patients without virtual reality group. Therefore, there were statistical significant differences between the patients with and without virtual reality burn wound dressing (P<0.00). Conclusion: The study found that virtual reality technology was effective in reducing pain, shortening dressing change time, and helping children's baseline pain levels return to normal. Recommendations: This study recommended that virtual reality distraction method should be integrated as a part of routine pain management during dressing change for patient with burn injuries.