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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $369,602 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HS029183-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-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.
-
Smartphone virtual reality to ease pain during pediatric burn dressing changes at home
This project uses a smartphone virtual reality app to help children have less pain and need fewer opioid pills during at-home burn dressing changes.
-
Using virtual reality and biofeedback to manage pain after surgery in kids
This study is exploring a fun new way to help kids and teens feel better after surgery by using virtual reality and biofeedback, so they can manage their pain on their own and recover more comfortably.
-
Using smartphone virtual reality to manage pain during burn care at home
This study is testing a fun smartphone virtual reality tool to help kids with burn injuries feel less pain during their dressing changes at home, making the experience easier and reducing the need for strong pain medications.
-
AI-enhanced virtual reality tool to support remote emergency brain surgery training in Tanzania
A new AI-powered virtual reality tool helps non-experts in low-resource areas get real-time remote guidance for emergency traumatic brain injury surgery.
-
Cancer Pain Management for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors with Depressive Symptoms
A technology-based program helps Asian American breast cancer survivors with depressive symptoms manage chronic pain more effectively from home using a web app and mobile tools.
-
Building Indigenous Research Infrastructure for Substance Misuse and Pain Management
A planned two-year effort helps the Lumbee Tribe build a community-led research infrastructure to better understand and address substance misuse and pain in their community.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.