DefinePK

Research Objective

To assess the impact of virtual reality (VR) glasses on pain perception and heart rate during inferior alveolar nerve block in pediatric patients.

Methodology

A quasi-experimental investigation was conducted at a dental hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, from June to February 2022. Healthy children aged four to twelve years requiring dental treatment involving an inferior alveolar nerve block were included. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: one using VR glasses for distraction and a control group without VR. Pain perception was assessed using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) behavioral pain assessment scale. Heart rate was monitored before, during, and after the procedure. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, with non-parametric tests applied due to non-normal data distribution.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD
    A["Recruit Pediatric Dental Patients"] --> B["Assess Inclusion Criteria"];
    B -- Meets Criteria --> C["Obtain Informed Consent"];
    C --> D["Randomly Assign to Groups"];
    D -- VR Group --> E["Administer VR Goggles"];
    D -- Non-VR Group --> F["No VR Intervention"];
    E --> G["Perform Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block"];
    F --> G;
    G --> H["Record FLACC Scores"];
    G --> I["Monitor Heart Rate"];
    H --> J["Analyze Data"];
    I --> J;
    J --> K["Draw Conclusions"];                    

Discussion

Virtual reality goggles were found to be an effective non-pharmacological technique for reducing pain perception and anxiety in pediatric dental patients undergoing inferior alveolar nerve blocks. The distraction provided by VR shifted the patients' focus away from the procedure, leading to improved behavior and reduced physiological stress markers like heart rate. The findings are consistent with previous research in various medical and dental settings.

Key Findings

The study included 68 participants, with a median age of 8 years. The VR group showed a significantly lower median FLACC score (1.0) compared to the non-VR group (5.0) (p-value <0.001). Significant differences were also observed in individual FLACC components (face, legs, activity, crying, consolability) between the groups. During the procedure, the heart rate of VR participants was significantly lower (93.0 bpm) than the non-VR group (100.0 bpm) (p-value 0.044).

Conclusion

The use of VR goggles as a distraction method significantly reduced pain perception and heart rate in pediatric dental patients during inferior alveolar nerve blocks. This technology offers a safe and effective alternative for managing dental anxiety and discomfort in children.

Fact Check

1. Sample Size: The study enrolled 68 participants.
2. Median FLACC Score (VR Group): The median FLACC score for the VR group was 1.0 (IQR 1.0 - 2.0).
3. Heart Rate During Procedure (Non-VR Group): The median heart rate for the non-VR group during the procedure was 100.0 bpm (IQR 87.7 - 104.0).

Mind Map