VR goggles ease surgery fears in children, study finds
NCT ID NCT07415343
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether watching a virtual reality (VR) educational video before surgery could reduce fear and pain in children aged 5 to 12. Seventy-four children were randomly assigned to either a VR group or a control group. While fear scores did not differ between groups overall, children in the VR group had less fear after watching the video and reported lower pain after surgery compared to the control group.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- virtual reality
- What this could lead to
- If this approach is confirmed, hospitals could use VR as a simple, drug-free way to help children feel less pain and fear before and after surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This was a small, single-center study with only 74 children. The fear reduction was seen only within the VR group, not compared to the control group, so the effect may not be strong or generalizable.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Ege University
Izmir, Turkey (Türkiye)
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