OBJECTIVE: To test whether a head-mounted display helmet enhances the effectiveness of videogame distraction for children experiencing cold pressor pain. METHOD: Forty-one children, aged 6-14 years, underwent one or two baseline cold pressor trials followed by two distraction trials in which they played the same videogame with and without the helmet in counterbalanced order. Pain threshold (elapsed time until the child reported pain) and pain tolerance (total time the child kept the hand submerged in the cold water) were measured for each cold pressor trial. RESULTS: Both distraction conditions resulted in improved pain tolerance relative to baseline. Older children appeared to experience additional benefits from using the helmet, whereas younger children benefited equally from both conditions. The findings suggest that virtual reality technology can enhance the effects of distraction for some children. Research is needed to identify the characteristics of children for whom this technology is best suited.
OBJECTIVE: To test whether a head-mounted display helmet enhances the effectiveness of videogame distraction for children experiencing cold pressor pain. METHOD: Forty-one children, aged 6-14 years, underwent one or two baseline cold pressor trials followed by two distraction trials in which they played the same videogame with and without the helmet in counterbalanced order. Pain threshold (elapsed time until the child reported pain) and pain tolerance (total time the child kept the hand submerged in the cold water) were measured for each cold pressor trial. RESULTS: Both distraction conditions resulted in improved pain tolerance relative to baseline. Older children appeared to experience additional benefits from using the helmet, whereas younger children benefited equally from both conditions. The findings suggest that virtual reality technology can enhance the effects of distraction for some children. Research is needed to identify the characteristics of children for whom this technology is best suited.
Authors: Lynnda M Dahlquist; Jennifer Shroff Pendley; Donna S Landthrip; Cheri L Jones; C Philip Steuber Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2002-01 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Hunter G Hoffman; David R Patterson; Jeff Magula; Gretchen J Carrougher; Karen Zeltzer; Stephen Dagadakis; Sam R Sharar Journal: J Clin Psychol Date: 2004-02
Authors: Lynnda M Dahlquist; Karen E Weiss; Emily F Law; Soumitri Sil; Linda Jones Herbert; Susan Berrin Horn; Karen Wohlheiter; Claire Sonntag Ackerman Journal: J Pediatr Psychol Date: 2009-09-28
Authors: Emily F Law; Lynnda M Dahlquist; Soumitri Sil; Karen E Weiss; Linda Jones Herbert; Karen Wohlheiter; Susan Berrin Horn Journal: J Pediatr Psychol Date: 2010-07-23