Virtual reality reduces pain in hospitalized patients

3D virtual reality (VR) technology is for more than just video games. In a study published in The Journal of Medical Internet Research Mental Health found VR headsets effective in reducing a patient's pain after only 15 minute.

The study examined the effectiveness of the 3D Samsung Gear Oculus VR headset in reducing pain. Brennan Spiegel, MD, director of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Health Service Research, believes that the VR intervention provides a distraction where the patient remains deeply engaged in the VR experience and ignores pain.

"We believe virtual reality hijacks the senses—but in a good way," Spiegel said. "It creates an immersive distraction that stops the mind from processing pain, offering a drug-free supplement to traditional pain management.”

A total of 100 patients with an average Numeric Pain Rating Scale of three out of a possible 10 were included in the study. Patients were split into two groups of 50, one receiving a VR headset with a calming video and the other viewing 2D nature video on a 14-inch screen. Pain measurements were taken before and after 15 minutes of the viewing interventions.

Results showed that patients using the VR headset reported a 24 percent drop in pain scores while scores of patients viewing the 2D video dropped 13.2 percent, a significant difference when using the VR technology.

"Results indicate virtual reality may be an effective tool along with traditional pain management protocols," said Spiegel. "This gives doctors and patients more options than medication alone. Based on this study, we're now conducting a larger trial to measure the impact of virtual reality on the use of pain medications, length of hospital stay and post-discharge satisfaction scores.”