Morris, Linzette Deidre (2009-12)
A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
M.Sc. in Physiotherapy at the Stellenbosch University.
Thesis (MSc (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background Albeit Virtual Reality (VR) has been shown to be a useful adjunct in the reduction of pain during burn care and therapy, the current VR systems are expensive and may not be economically feasible for developing countries such as South Africa, where health budgets are stringent. Objective The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of a lowcost VR system (eMagin Z800 3DVisor), used in conjunction with pharmacologic analgesics,
on reducing pain and anxiety in adult burn injury patients undergoing physiotherapy treatment, compared to pharmacologic analgesics alone at a South African hospital. Study design Single-blinded, within-subject study design. Methods Pain and anxiety outcome measures were measured by a blinded assessor using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Burn Specific Pain and Anxiety Scale. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests as well as the Student’s paired t-test were used to analyze data. Main findings Eleven eligible adult burn injury patients consented to participate in this study (3 female, 8 male; median age 33 years: range 23-54 years). A marginal (p=0.06) to insignificant (p=0.13) difference between the two conditions (analgesics with VR and analgesics alone) in reducing pain was found. No significant difference (p=0.58) was found between the two conditions (analgesics with VR and analgesics alone) for anxiety. Interpretation There is a trend that a low-cost VR system, when added to routine pharmacologic analgesics, is an economically feasible and safe adjunct therapy and could be of considerable benefit if implemented into the current pain management regimen of burn injury patients at a South African Hospital.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond Ofskoon dit al bewys is dat Virtuele Realiteit (VR) ’n nuttige hulpmiddel is om pyn tydens die versorging en behandeling van brandslagoffers te verlig, is die huidige VR stelsels duur en dalk nie uitvoerbaar in ontwikkelende lande soos Suid-Afrika waar die
pynskattingskaal en die brandspesifieke pyn- en angsskaal te gebruik. Beskrywende statistieke, Chi-kwadraat-toetse en studente se gepaarde t-toets is gebruik om die data te analiseer. Bevindings Elf geskikte volwasse pasiënte met brandwonde het ingestem om aan die studie deel te neem, drie was vroulik en agt was manlik (mediaan-ouderdom 33; reeks 23-54). ’n Marginale (p=0.06) tot onbeduidende verskil (p=0.13) is gevind tussen die twee kondisies om pyn te verlig (met of sonder die toediening van VR). Wat angs betref, is geen beduidende verskille (p=0.58) tussen die twee kondisies (met of sonder die toediening van VR) gevind nie. Interpretasie Daar is ’n neiging dat ’n laekoste VR-stelsel, wanneer dit saam met die gewone farmakologiese pynstillers gebruik word, ’n veilige en ekonomiese praktiese adjunk therapie is en beduidend voordelig kan wees wanneer dit geïmplementeer word as deel van die huidige pynbeheerregimen van brandslagofferpasiënte by ’n Suid-Afrikaanse hospitaal.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4820
This item appears in the following collections: Masters Degrees (Physiotherapy)51