Virtual reality: Feasibility of implementation in a regional burn center

Abstract Objective Burn care providers continue to search for non-pharmacologic adjuncts for pain control. Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to be a useful adjunct by reducing pain during burn care and therapy. The feasibility of implementation for clinical use (non-research related) has not been...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Burns Vol. 35; no. 7; pp. 967 - 969
Main Authors:	Markus, L.A, Willems, K.E, Maruna, C.C, Schmitz, C.L, Pellino, T.A, Wish, J.R, Faucher, L.D, Schurr, M.J
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2009 Elsevier
Subjects:	Adult Biological and medical sciences Burn Units - organization & administration Burns Burns - complications Burns - rehabilitation Computer Graphics Critical Care Feasibility Studies Female Humans Male Medical sciences Occupational Therapy Pain Pain - etiology Pain - prevention & control Physical therapy Physical Therapy Modalities Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents User-Computer Interface Occupational therapy Physical therapy Pain Burn Skin disease Treatment Feasibility Implementation
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Summary:	Abstract Objective Burn care providers continue to search for non-pharmacologic adjuncts for pain control. Virtual reality (VR) has been shown to be a useful adjunct by reducing pain during burn care and therapy. The feasibility of implementation for clinical use (non-research related) has not been studied in a burn center. The purpose of this study was to determine staff resources needed to implement VR in a regional burn center. Methods Ten patients with burns participated in VR during occupational or physical therapy sessions. A portable computer and VR head mounted device (Proview VO35, Kaiser Electro-Optics, Inc.) and the “SnowWorld” software (Patterson and Hoffman, University of Washington) were used. Two staff members trained in the use of VR participated in each session in order to adhere to infection control policies. VR set-up time, patient instruction time, VR therapy time, and equipment cleaning time were recorded and rounded to the nearest minute. Results A mean of 59 staff time minutes (S.D. 18; range 29–85) were required for set-up, instruction, VR therapy, and cleaning. Set-up required the most time, averaging 23 min. Instruction, participation, and clean-up means were 6, 13, and 16 min respectively. Time for set-up decreased over time, however technical difficulties with the VR equipment accounted for most of the variability in the time required. Conclusions These results suggest VR requires a significant time commitment from staff for implementation. One clear disadvantage was the lack of on-site technical support for equipment troubleshooting. In the current healthcare environment where therapists and nurses are accounting for each minute, it would be difficult for smaller burn centers to allocate staff and resources to implement a VR program. Further research is needed to determine if VR benefits are worth the implementation costs.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0305-4179 1879-1409
DOI:	10.1016/j.burns.2009.01.013