The effect of vein imaging device and virtual reality method on catheter intervention success, procedure-related emotional appearance, pain, fear and anxiety during peripheral intravenous catheterization in children

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a vein imaging device and virtual reality distraction on the success of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIC) placement, intervention duration, emotional appearance, pain, fear, and anxiety related to PIC intervention in children aged 4-10 years in a pediatric emergency unit. The study was conducted with 160 children randomly assigned to groups using stratified randomization and inserted peripheral intravenous catheterization. The children were divided into four groups: control group, vein imaging group, virtual reality group, and vein imaging and virtual reality group. The duration of the intervention and the number of interventions performed on each patient were recorded. The children were assessed before and after the procedure using the Emotional Appearance Scale for Children. After the procedure, the Child Fear Scale and Child Anxiety Scale-State were used to evaluate the most painful moment experienced by the child during the procedure using the Facial Expressions Rating Scale and Color Analog Scale. The scores obtained from the scales were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis analysis. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the number and duration of interventions. There was also no statistical difference in emotional appearance between the pre-procedural groups. However, there was a statistical difference in emotional appearance, pain, and anxiety scores between the groups after the procedure, but no difference was found in terms of fear. It was determined that the virtual reality method was effective in reducing pain and anxiety, while the vein imaging device did not affect the number and duration of interventions. Keywords: child, peripheral intravenous catheterization, vein imaging, virtual reality, distraction, pain, fear, anxiety.