• Suzanne Sander Wint, Debra Eshelman, Jill Steele, and Cathie E Guzzetta.
• Children's Hospital of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
• Oncol Nurs Forum. 2002 Jan 1; 29 (1): E8-E15.

Purpose/ObjectivesTo determine the effects of virtual reality (VR) glasses on adolescents with cancer undergoing lumbar punctures (LPs).DesignPilot study using an experimental, control group design.SettingIn-hospital oncology clinic.Sample30 adolescents with cancer (17 in the VR and 13 in the control group) undergoing frequent LPs.MethodsSubjects were randomly assigned to groups. Both groups received standard intervention during the LP, but the experimental group also wore VR glasses and watched a video. Following the LP, both groups rated their pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) and were interviewed to evaluate their experience.Main Research VariablesPain, subjective evaluation of experience.FindingsAlthough VAS pain scores were not statistically different between the two groups (p = 0.77), VAS scores tended to be lower in the VR group (median VAS of 7.0, range 0-48) than in the control group (median VAS of 9.0, range 0-59). 77% of subjects in the experimental group said the VR glasses helped to distract them from the LP.ConclusionsVR glasses are a feasible, age-appropriate, nonpharmacologic adjunct to conventional care in managing the pain associated with LPs in adolescents.Implications For PracticeThe clinical application of various age-appropriate distracters to reduce pain in adolescents undergoing painful procedures should be explored.

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