NCT06952192

Virtual Reality During Skin Prick Test

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality in Reducing Anxiety, Fear, and Pain in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Skin Prick Testing: A Cross-Over Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 108 (actual)
• Sponsor: Federico II University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Skin prick testing (SPT) is a cornerstone diagnostic procedure for identifying allergic sensitizations in pediatric patients. Despite being minimally invasive, it often provokes considerable anxiety, fear, and pain, potentially compromising test accuracy due to poor compliance. Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological tool for procedural distress management, yet its application in allergy diagnostics remains underexplored. To evaluate the effectiveness of VR in reducing procedural anxiety, fear, and pain, and in improving compliance in children undergoing SPT.

Conditions

• Allergy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Virtual reality	VR application via a head-mounted display one minute before and throughout the SPT procedure. The VR intervention utilized a Samsung Gear VR headset (Samsung, Seoul, South Korea) in conjunction with a Samsung S7 or S8 mobile device to provide an immersive and engaging experience. Children were allowed to choose from a range of age-appropriate VR content designed to enhance engagement and relaxation. Prior to the procedure, children were trained on how to use the headset by study staff to ensure a smooth experience.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-02-01
• Completion: 2025-02-01
• First posted: 2025-04-30
• Last updated: 2025-04-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Italy