Immersive Virtual Reality and Anxiety, Nausea, and Vomiting in Children With Cancer: An RCT
- Journal
- Pediatrics (Q1)
- Published
- 4 September 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Cho Lee Wong, Chi Kong Li, Carmen Yip Wing Han Chan, Yin Ting Cheung, Lin Mo, Kai Chow Choi, et al.
- PMID
- 42692476
- DOI
- 10.1542/peds.2026-077239
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Pediatrics and Child Health (top studies of the week, 6 September 2026): Not directly relevant to acute paediatric care
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of immersive virtual reality (IVR) for alleviating anxiety, anticipatory nausea and vomiting, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with pediatric cancer receiving their first chemotherapy. METHODS: An assessor-blinded parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted in a local children's hospital among pediatric patients (aged 6-12 years) undergoing their first chemotherapy. Outcome measures included (1) anxiety; (2) anticipatory nausea and vomiting; and (3) CINV. Outcome assessments were conducted at baseline (T0), before (T1) and after first (T2) chemotherapy, and before (T3) and after (T4) second chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients (mean age = 9.02 years) were recruited. Generalized estimating equations analyses indicated that the intervention group had significantly greater reduction in anxiety than the control group before and after the first and second chemotherapy (time-by-group interaction, T1: β = -1.76, d = -0.67; T2: β = -3.71, d = -0.87; T3: β = -3.71, d = -0.91; T4: β = -6.30, d = -1.48; all P < 0.001), demonstrating that the IVR intervention effect progressively increased from medium to large over time. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that compared with the control group, the IVR group reported significantly fewer episodes of anticipatory nausea at T3 (P < 0.001), CINV (P = 0.03) at T4, and chemotherapy-induced vomiting (P = 0.003) at T2 and T4. CONCLUSIONS: IVR was beneficial in reducing anxiety, anticipatory nausea, and CINV among patients with pediatric cancer undergoing their first chemotherapy. The findings suggest a convenient and easily applied intervention for pediatric chemotherapy patients to enhance clinical care.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.