Active and passive distraction using a head-mounted display helmet: effects on cold pressor pain in children. |
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Authors: | Lynnda M Dahlquist Kristine D McKenna Katia K Jones Lindsay Dillinger Karen E Weiss Claire Sonntag Ackerman |
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Affiliation: | Department of Psychology, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. dahlquis@umbc.edu |
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Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: The current study tested the effectiveness of interactive versus passive distraction that was delivered via a virtual reality type head-mounted display helmet for children experiencing cold pressor pain. DESIGN: Forty children, aged 5 to 13 years, underwent 1 or 2 baseline cold pressor trials followed by interactive distraction and passive distraction trials in counterbalanced order. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain threshold and pain tolerance. RESULTS: Children who experienced either passive or interactive distraction demonstrated significant improvements in both pain tolerance and pain threshold relative to their baseline scores. In contrast, children who underwent a second cold pressor trial without distraction showed no significant improvements in pain tolerance or threshold. CONCLUSION: Although both distraction conditions were effective, the interactive distraction condition was significantly more effective. Implications for the treatment of children's distress during painful medical procedures are discussed. |
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