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

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• a confirmed history of allergic symptoms related to either environmental or food allergens
• between 4 and 18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of seizure disorders,
• motion sickness,
• severe developmental delay,
• non-Italian-speaking patients
• Participants who had used systemic antihistamines or corticosteroids within the past seven days