Eye-tracked computer games as a method for pain perception alleviation in chronic wound management

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic pain frequently accompanies the daily lives of many chronic wound patients. The degree of pain experienced significantly increases when performing medical procedures related to wound management. The use of eye-tracked games in order to distract the patient's attention from the painful activities performed can be an effective procedure. Aim: Assesment of eye-trackers as a distractors during wound management. Material and methods: Forty patients suffering from chronic wounds were qualified for the study. Patients performed eye tracking games during dressing changes and wound cleaning. Pain sensations were surveyed. The survey concerned the pain experienced on a daily basis, when changing the dressing without use and with the use of eye trackers. Results: It was found that eye trackers significantly reduced the pain experienced during dressing changes compared to the pain caused by these procedures, but without the use of eye trackers. Conclusions: On the basis of the obtained results, it was proposed to introduce eye trackers into routine clinical practice during chronic wound management.