The use of virtual reality as a standard of care in verified burn centers

Abstract

This study explored whether the use of virtual reality (VR) was a standard of care during burn care at burn verified facilities in the United States. Surveys were sent to American Burn Association verified burn centers to investigate if VR was being used as a standard of care, if protocols for using VR are in place and how they were developed, and what barriers these facilities are facing and several other topics investigated. Out of the 64 facilities surveyed, 21 responses were collected. Burn facilities reported 63.2% do not use and 36.8% do use VR while performing burn dressing changes and debridement. Only one out of seven respondents who reported they use VR considered it a standard of practice at their facility. Out of the seven hospitals currently using VR, two reported a decrease in opioid use with burn care with the use of VR. Although the current results indicate that VR is not frequently used clinically during burn care at most burn centers, 83.3% of burn centers reported they see themselves using VR in the future. As VR becomes more widely disseminated, future research should be conducted to continue to see if VR is becoming a standard of care and whether VR is making clinical impacts on pain, opioid use, and level of anxiety among burn patients.

Keywords: Burn Care and Virtual Reality.