Semerci, RemziyeKostak, Melahat AkgunEren, TubaAvci, Gulcan2024-06-122024-06-1220211043-45421532-8457https://doi.org/10.1177/1043454220975702https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14551/24583Purpose: Needle procedures are one of the most distressing practices for pediatric oncology patients. Virtual reality (VR) is a distraction method which offers an extremely realistic and interactive virtual environment and helps reduce needle-related pain and distress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of VR method on pain during venous port access in pediatric oncology patients aged 7 to 18 years. Method: Children who had cancer and were between the ages of 7 and 18 years and undergoing a port-a-cath access were randomly assigned through blocked randomization to either the VR intervention group or control group. A commercially available VR headset was fitted to children in the intervention group. Immediately after the port access, pain scores were obtained from children's self-reports and parents' proxy reports, using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. Results: Descriptive characteristics of the children (n = 71) showed a homogeneous distribution between groups. During the procedure, children in the control group (n = 36; 5.03 +/- 3.35) experienced more pain than the children in VR group (n = 35; 2.34 +/- 2.76; p < .001). Proxy reports of the parents in the experimental group (1.77 +/- 2.46) were found to be lower than those in the control group (4.67 +/- 2.56; p < .001). Conclusions/Implications for Practice: VR method is effective for reducing pain during venous port access in pediatric oncology patients. VR should be used as a distraction method during venous port access.en10.1177/1043454220975702info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessVirtual RealityDistractionPainVenous Port AccessDistractionChildrenDistressVenipunctureFeasibilityCancerArticle382142151Q3WOS:0005995551000012-s2.0-8509750023033300448N/A