VR for Pain & Sleep in Burn Patients: A RCT

Abadan University of Medical Sciences

This study aims to evaluate whether virtual reality (VR) can reduce pain and improve sleep quality during wound dressing changes in burn patients with 25-60% total body surface area (TBSA) burns, compared to standard care.

Background:

Burn injuries are extremely painful, especially during wound dressing changes. They also cause severe sleep problems, which can slow down healing. While medicines help, they often have side effects and don't fully solve these issues. Virtual reality (VR) is a new tool that distracts the brain from pain by immersing patients in a calming digital world. This study was designed to assess if VR could help with both pain and sleep in burn patients.

Methods:

We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 60 adult burn patients who had between 25% and 60% of their body burned. All patients were stable and able to understand instructions. We randomly assigned them into two groups: one group used VR headsets during their dressing changes, and the other group received standard care without VR. Pain was measured before and after the procedure using a simple 0-to-10 scale. Sleep quality was assessed using a standard questionnaire (PSQI) before and 24 hours after the treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• - Adult patients aged 18 to 60 years.
• Deep partial-thickness or full-thickness burns covering 25% to 60% of total body surface area (TBSA).
• Hemodynamic stability (systolic BP ≥90 mmHg, HR 60-100 bpm, no vasopressor use).
• Ability to understand and comprehend Persian language.
• Scheduled for at least one standardized, non-sedated wound dressing change procedure.

Exclusion Criteria:

• - Diagnosed psychiatric or neurological disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, epilepsy).
• Severe visual impairment (best-corrected visual acuity <20/200) or auditory impairment.
• History of motion sickness or VR intolerance.
• Contraindications to VR use (e.g., active vertigo, uncontrolled hypertension).