Virtual Reality for Port-a-Cath Access
Oncology Pain
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Oncology Pain
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Children age 5 to 17 years of age who are undergoing port-a-cath access
- Pre-intervention Children's Fear Scale score of at least 1 with respect to the impending port-a-cath access
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subjective report of motion sickness within past 12 months (excluding anticipatory nausea a child may experience en route to their medical appointment)
- Subjective history of claustrophobia Requires timely antimicrobial therapy
- Visual, auditory, or cognitive impairment or language barrier precluding comprehension of study-related tasks or safe interaction with VR
- Medical record documentation of current MRSA infection
- Subjective history of concurrent respiratory infection (defined as cough, sore throat, fever, coryza, or sneezing within the past 24 hours) or gastrointestinal infection (defined as any vomiting or diarrhea within past 24 hours)
- Previous enrollment in study
- Seizure disorder
- History of vertigo or neurological disorder that creates moderate to severe dizziness.
Sites / Locations
- London Health Sciences CentreRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Virtual Reality
Tablet
No or non-technologic distraction
The Oculus 2 headset will be used during port access. The device features a stereoscopic display mounted on a lightweight wireless head mounted display weighing 503 g with built-in 3D audio and an adjustable head strap and adjustable lens distance. The software used will be the Might Pebbles VR Game developed by ManageXR. It is a child-friendly VR game that does not require the use of hand controllers. It also provides an option to increase the cognitive load, making it appropriate for children of all ages. The experimental group will be given up to 10 minutes to familiarize themselves with the device, assisted by the research assistant and will begin using it 5-10 minutes prior to port access. Most participants will receive topical anesthestic in the form of 4% amethocaine (Ametop), eutectic mixture of lidocaine and amethocaine (EMLA), or 4% lidocaine (Maxilene) as per standard practice at our institution. However, some participants may refuse this co-intervention.
The child will watch a video on a tablet or iPad that is appropriate for their age during port access. They will begin using it 5-10 minutes prior to port access. The content of the video will be at the discretion of the child life specialist, nurse, or caregiver. Most participants will receive topical anesthestic in the form of 4% amethocaine (Ametop), eutectic mixture of lidocaine and amethocaine (EMLA), or 4% lidocaine (Maxilene) as per standard practice at our institution. However, some participants may refuse this co-intervention.
This is no distraction or non-technologic distraction measures such as bubbles, etc., facilitated by the child life specialist, nurse, or caregiver during port access. The measure will be documented for the purposes of analysis. They will begin using it 5-10 minutes prior to port access. Most participants will receive topical anesthestic in the form of 4% amethocaine (Ametop), eutectic mixture of lidocaine and amethocaine (EMLA), or 4% lidocaine (Maxilene) as per standard practice at our institution. However, some participants may refuse this co-intervention.