Active and passive distraction using a head-mounted display helmet: effects on cold pressor pain in children.
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.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Dahlquist
Lynnda M
LM
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. dahlquis@umbc.edu
McKenna
Kristine D
KD
Jones
Katia K
KK
Dillinger
Lindsay
L
Weiss
Karen E
KE
Ackerman
Claire Sonntag
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games