The effect of virtual reality glasses on pain and anxiety during appendectomy dressing in children

The study was carried out in a randomised controlled experimental design to determine the effect of virtual reality glasses on pain and anxiety during appendectomy dressing in children. The sample group of the study consisted of 72 children (Virtual reality group=36; Control group= 36) who underwent appendectomy between March 2024 and June 2024 in the Pediatric Surgery Service of İstanbul Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital. "Introductory Information Form", "Wong Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale" and "Children's Anxiety Scale-State Scale-CAM-S" were used to collect data. The descriptive characteristics of the children and their parents included in the study were similar between the groups (p>0.05). Pain and anxiety scores of the children before dressing were similar between the groups (p>0.05). It was determined that the children who used virtual reality glasses during and after dressing had lower pain and anxiety score averages than the children in the control group (p<0.01). As a result; It was determined that the use of virtual reality glasses during appendectomy dressing was effective in reducing pain and anxiety in children.