Virtual reality helmet display quality influences the magnitude of virtual reality analgesia.

Full Abstract

Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) distraction can be used in addition to traditional opioids to reduce procedural pain. The current study explored whether a High-Tech-VR helmet (ie, a 60-degree field-of-view head-mounted display) reduces pain more effectively than a Low-Tech-VR helmet (a 35-degree field-of-view head-mounted display). Using a double-blind between-groups design, 77 healthy volunteers (no patients) aged 18-23 were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Each subject received a brief baseline thermal pain stimulus, and the same stimulus again minutes later while in SnowWorld using a Low-Tech-VR helmet (Group 1), using a High-Tech-VR helmet (Group 2), or receiving no distraction (Group 3, control group). Each participant provided subjective 0-10 ratings of cognitive, sensory, and affective components of pain, and amount of fun during the pain stimulus. Compared to the Low-Tech-VR helmet group, subjects in the High-Tech-VR helmet group reported 34% more reduction in worst pain (P < .05), 46% more reduction in pain unpleasantness (P = .001), 29% more reduction in "time spent thinking about pain" (P < .05), and 32% more fun during the pain stimulus in VR (P < .05). Only 29% of participants in the Low-Tech helmet group, as opposed to 65% of participants in the High-Tech-VR helmet group, showed a clinically significant reduction in pain intensity during virtual reality. These results highlight the importance of using an appropriately designed VR helmet to achieve effective VR analgesia (see ).

PERSPECTIVE:
Pain during medical procedures (eg, burn wound care) is often excessive. Adjunctive virtual reality distraction can substantially reduce procedural pain. The results of the present study show that a higher quality VR helmet was more effective at reducing pain than a lower quality VR helmet.

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Author information

Author/s: Hoffman, Hunter G (HG); Seibel, Eric J (EJ); Richards, Todd L (TL); Furness, Thomas A (TA); Patterson, David R (DR); Sharar, Sam R (SR);

Affiliation: Human Interface Technology Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. hunter(-atsign-)hitL.washington.edu

Grants: GM42725 (Agency:NIGMS NIH HHS) ; HD37683 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society (J Pain), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Nov; vol 7 (issue 11) : pp 843-50

Dates: Created 2006/10/31; Completed 2007/01/04; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17074626, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Hot Temperature
Humans
Male
Pain - prevention & control; psychology
Pain Measurement

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