NIH-funded research R01 grant

Smartphone virtual reality to ease pain for kids during burn care at home

Official title: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Smartphone Virtual Reality for Pain Management During Burn Care Transition

Funded at Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-11424511 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A smartphone-based virtual reality tool called VR-PAT is being tested to help children feel less pain and use fewer opioid medicines when they shift from hospital care to home burn dressing changes.

More Pain Management research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionResearch Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbus, United States)
Project startSeptember 30, 2022
Project endJuly 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$369,602
NIH project number5R01HS029183-05
Project IDNIH-11424511 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Children and adolescents with burn injuries transitioning from hospital to home care who and their families are willing to use smartphone VR during at-home dressing changes.

Less likely to help

Patients not using smartphones or without access to home dressing changes may not experience a benefit.

What this research studies

This project tests a patient-friendly smartphone VR tool designed to reduce pain during at-home burn dressing changes for children. Building on prior findings of meaningful pain reduction in a hospital setting, the study will measure how well VR-PAT lowers pain and may reduce opioid use during home care. The team will also explore what helps or hinders adopting VR-PAT in real families’ routines, including safety and engagement for both patients and their families. Participants would be pediatric burn patients transitioning from hospital to home, using the VR-PAT system during dressing changes over time. The trial aims to provide evidence that could support broader use of accessible smartphone VR for pediatric burn care at home.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, children could experience less pain during home burn care and may use fewer opioid medications.

How similar studies have gone: Preliminary hospital-based results showed a clinically meaningful pain reduction with VR-PAT in pediatric burn patients, supporting further testing in home settings.

Where this research is happening

  • Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
    Columbus, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Xiang, Henry — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
  • Study coordinator: Xiang, Henry

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.