Immersive Virtual Reality and Music During Circumcision in Children

Aim: Circumcision is one of the surgical procedures causing fear and pain in children. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (IVR) and music on children's anxiety, fear, and pain levels during circumcision surgery.

Methods:The participants were divided into three groups: Immersive virtual reality group (n=24), music group (n=24), and control group (n=24). Data were collected using a Participant Information Form, the Children's Anxiety Meter-Scale (CAM-S), the Children's Fear Scale (CFS), and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBS). Anxiety and fear levels of the children were measured before, during, and after the circumcision operation and their pain levels were measured during and after circumcision. The study was conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, t-test, and Duncan and Bonferroni tests were performed for data analysis.

Intervention protocols: As a routine procedure in the clinic where the study was conducted, the children to be circumcised were admitted to the clinic in the morning on the day of the procedure, and routine preparations for the operation were completed. When the children and their families came to the clinic immediately after hospitalization, they were informed about the study by one of the researchers, and their written and verbal consent was obtained. Then the data were collected using an introductory information form, the Children's Anxiety Meter-Scale (CAM-S), and the Children's Fear Scale (CFS). Children who met the selection criteria were divided into groups by randomization method.

After the children in the experimental groups were taken to the waiting room in the operating room, they were informed by the researcher who would perform the intervention. The researcher explained the use of virtual reality glasses to the children in the IVR group and the use of music headphones to the children in the music group. Each child in the music group was allowed to choose the music he wanted to listen to during the circumcision. The children were also informed that the intervention would be stopped if they experienced motion sickness, eye discomfort, headache, or earache. In the interview with the children in the music group, the type of music they listened to in their daily lives was asked and the music they wanted to listen to during circumcision was determined. Each child in the IVR group was allowed to choose the VR game he wanted to play during the circumcision. Routine procedures were applied for the control group.

Intervention phase:In this study, one group received IVR intervention, and the other group received music intervention to distract the child during the circumcision operation. One of the researchers (an academic with a PhD degree in pediatric nursing) was certified as a music therapy practitioner and had knowledge and experience in virtual reality. The interventions were carried out by this researcher. The researcher complied with the principles of medical and surgical asepsis in the operating room. Just before the intervention, the researcher put the virtual reality glasses on the children in the IVR group and gave the remote controls to their hands. The children in the music group wore music headphones.

Circumcision operations were performed in the same operating room setting by the same pediatric surgeon and operating room team (assistant physician, anesthesia technician, three nurses, and the researcher). The thermocautery assisted guillotine technique was performed in all children during circumcision. Each circumcision operation took an average of 15 minutes for all children in the experimental and control groups. This period included the child's entry and exit to and from the operating room. During this period, the parents of all children waited in the waiting room outside the operating room.

During the circumcision operation, the IVR group received both routine care and VR game. The children were allowed to play the virtual reality game of their choice. The children in the IVR group had an interactive gaming experience for 10 minutes with the game of their choice, using the remote controls while lying on their backs on the operating table during circumcision.

The children in the IVR group were offered two video games from the Oculus Quest gallery. These games were Ocean Rift and Epic Roller Coaster-T-Rex Kingdom. Ocean Rift is the world's first VR water safari park. It has 12 different marine animals such as dolphins, sharks, and turtles and a habitat. Here one can visit a vibrant underwater world that extends all the way to the Arctic and Atlantis. Epic Roller Coaster-T-Rex Kingdom takes one on a roller coaster ride through the Age of Dinosaurs. There are more than 10 species of dinosaurs such as terrestrial, flying, herbivorous and carnivorous. The aforementioned VR video games are commercially available and were obtained from the Oculus Quest 2 Store (https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/).

A disposable silicone pad was placed on the Oculus Quest before each use. To minimize direct contact with the device, the patients wore disposable headgear and a face mask (personal protective equipment) before use. The parts of the device in contact with children's faces were cleaned before each intervention.

The children in the music group listened to music at the same volume (60 dB), with the same type of headphones, and the same iPad. The children listened to the music of their choice for 10 minutes after wearing the headphones. In musical interventions, it is recommended to play music chosen by individuals. Disposable ear pads were used for each child and the headphones were cleaned after each intervention.

Children in the control group received routine care and no intervention was performed. Anxiety, fear, and pain of the children in the experimental and control groups were re-evaluated 10 minutes after circumcision by the children and an external observer using the Children's Anxiety Meter-Scale (CAM-S), the Children's Fear Scale (CFS), and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBS).