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Description
Children undergoing cancer treatment often experience pain and anxiety during procedures such as port access or peripheral catheterization. Nurse-led distraction techniques, including virtual reality and play therapy, have emerged as promising non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce pain and anxiety in pediatric oncology patients. Existing data from primary and secondary research articles reveal the effectiveness of virtual reality and play therapy on reducing pain, anxiety, and psychosocial distress in pediatric oncology patients receiving cancer treatment. This study proposes a quasi-experimental design involving 90 pediatric oncology patients aged 6–12 years diagnosed with leukemia. Participants will be placed in a nurse-led VR distraction, play therapy, or standard care group. Pain and anxiety will be measured before and after each invasive procedure. It is anticipated that both distraction groups will show statistically significant reductions in pain and anxiety compared to standard care. Findings may support implementing nurse-led distraction techniques in routine nursing care to promote a more holistic approach to symptom management.
Department
Nursing
Faculty Mentor(s)
Luanne Linnard-Palmer, EdD, MSN, RN
Publication Date
2025
Sponsorship/Conference/Institution
Dominican University of California
City
San Rafael, CA
Keywords
virtual reality, play therapy, pediatric oncology, cancer, pain, anxiety
Disciplines
Nursing | Oncology | Pain Management | Pediatric Nursing | Recreational Therapy
Included in
Oncology Commons, Pain Management Commons, Pediatric Nursing Commons, Recreational Therapy Commons