Pajouhan Scientific Journal, Winter, In Press
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Ethics code: IR.UMSHA.REC.1404.492
1- Department of Pediatric Nursing, Student Research Center, School of Nursing, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
2- Mother and Child Care Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran ,f.mohammadi@umsha.ac.ir
3- Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
4- Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Chronic Diseases (Home Care) Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
5- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ekbatan Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
2- Mother and Child Care Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran ,
3- Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
4- Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Chronic Diseases (Home Care) Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
5- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ekbatan Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Abstract: (691 Views)
Background and Objectives: Pain and anxiety are among the most common symptoms experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy. These symptoms affect children's quality of life and treatment adherence. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions can be effective in managing pain and anxiety in pediatric patients. Meanwhile, virtual reality (VR), as an innovative non-pharmacological tool, distracts children from pain and anxiety by creating interactive environments. This systematic review aimed to examine the effectiveness of combining VR with other therapeutic methods for managing pain and anxiety in children with cancer during chemotherapy.
Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, all interventional studies published between 2015 and 2025 in English-language databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, PROSPERO, Scopus, Web of Science, Elsevier, Ovid, DOAJ) and Persian-language databases, including the Scientific Information Database of Jahad-e-Daneshgahi, Mag Iran, Iran Medex, and Iran Doc, were examined using keywords, such as "VR," "cancer," "children," "chemotherapy," "pain," and "anxiety." After removing duplicates and irrelevant articles, the quality of studies was assessed based on the JADAD guideline, the Risk of Bias scale, and the CONSORT checklist.
Results: A total of 933 articles were included. After removing 783 duplicates, the titles and abstracts of 150 articles were screened. Of these, 101 articles were excluded due to irrelevance. Consequently, 49 articles proceeded to the full-text review stage, of which 18 were excluded for being systematic reviews, 17 due to lack of full access, and 7 due to insufficient reporting. Ultimately, seven articles were included in this study. The findings showed that VR, when combined with other therapeutic methods, is effective in reducing pain and anxiety in children undergoing chemotherapy.
Conclusion: Combining VR with other therapeutic methods is an effective and safe approach to reduce pain and anxiety in children with cancer during chemotherapy. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of individual interventions but also serves as a low-adverse-effect complementary therapy to pharmacological treatments. However, heterogeneity in study designs and interventions highlights the need for further research to standardize combined protocols. Healthcare providers can use this approach as part of a multifaceted strategy to improve therapeutic outcomes in these patients.
Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, all interventional studies published between 2015 and 2025 in English-language databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, PROSPERO, Scopus, Web of Science, Elsevier, Ovid, DOAJ) and Persian-language databases, including the Scientific Information Database of Jahad-e-Daneshgahi, Mag Iran, Iran Medex, and Iran Doc, were examined using keywords, such as "VR," "cancer," "children," "chemotherapy," "pain," and "anxiety." After removing duplicates and irrelevant articles, the quality of studies was assessed based on the JADAD guideline, the Risk of Bias scale, and the CONSORT checklist.
Results: A total of 933 articles were included. After removing 783 duplicates, the titles and abstracts of 150 articles were screened. Of these, 101 articles were excluded due to irrelevance. Consequently, 49 articles proceeded to the full-text review stage, of which 18 were excluded for being systematic reviews, 17 due to lack of full access, and 7 due to insufficient reporting. Ultimately, seven articles were included in this study. The findings showed that VR, when combined with other therapeutic methods, is effective in reducing pain and anxiety in children undergoing chemotherapy.
Conclusion: Combining VR with other therapeutic methods is an effective and safe approach to reduce pain and anxiety in children with cancer during chemotherapy. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of individual interventions but also serves as a low-adverse-effect complementary therapy to pharmacological treatments. However, heterogeneity in study designs and interventions highlights the need for further research to standardize combined protocols. Healthcare providers can use this approach as part of a multifaceted strategy to improve therapeutic outcomes in these patients.
Type of Study: Systematic Review Article |
Subject:
Nursing
Received: 2025/10/12 | Accepted: 2025/12/22
Received: 2025/10/12 | Accepted: 2025/12/22
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