VR reduces pain and anxiety for children in the emergency department
· Medical Xpressby Emma O'Connor, Griffith University
edited by Swati Mestri, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Virtual reality (VR) extends beyond gaming and is proving to significantly reduce both pain and anxiety experienced by children undergoing painful procedures in emergency departments.
Griffith University researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies involving 1,929 participants, including 905 children using VR, 766 in a control group and 258 in an active-comparison group.
The work is published in the journal JACEP Open.
Bronwyn Griffin, a professor at Griffith's School of Nursing and Midwifery, said procedural pain and anxiety remained a common challenge in pediatric emergency care.
"VR provides an engaging distraction and can help children cope during stressful procedures without requiring medication," Griffin said.
"Emergency department treatment mostly included needle-related procedures, including intravenous cannulation, blood collection, vaccinations and other injections, as well as laceration repairs and wound closures."
The study found VR significantly reduced children's self-reported peak procedural pain compared with routine care and reduced pain compared with other active interventions or distraction methods.
Children also reported significantly lower anxiety and fear when using VR, with caregivers also reporting improvements in their child's pain and anxiety levels.
"The findings support VR as an effective, nonpharmacological option that can complement standard clinical care, making emergency care less traumatic for children and their families while improving the overall patient experience," Griffin said.
"Emergency departments can be frightening and painful for children.
"We should be looking at all options to improve their care while at the same time lowering their pain levels, fear and anxiety."
More information
Tanesha A. Dimanopoulos et al., Virtual Reality Interventions for Pediatric Pain and Anxiety Management During Emergency Department Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, JACEP Open (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.acepjo.2026.100465
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PediatricsEmergency medicineChildren's health Provided by Griffith University Who's behind this story?
Swati Mestri
Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
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