Debrecen4U May 19, 2026

Debrecen Children’s Clinic Adopts VR-based Pain Management

From now on, VR technology will be used at the department to help reduce the pain and anxiety associated with medical examinations and treatments. The innovative, drug-free method will be available across several specialist outpatient clinics and inpatient wards, potentially making treatment easier for hundreds of children each year.

Childhood hospital experiences can have a long-term impact on our relationship with healthcare. Needle phobia, which affects around 20 per cent of the adult population, often stems from pain and stress that were not properly managed during childhood. Within a virtual environment, patients move through a playful and safe world. As a result, the processing of pain stimuli is reduced, while anxiety decreases noticeably.

The Department of Paediatrics at the University of Debrecen’s Clinical Centre is one of Hungary’s largest paediatric care institutions. Approximately 17,000 children are treated as inpatients every year, while around 95,000 children attend its outpatient services.

“The virtual reality experience helps distract children from unpleasant stimuli, enabling them to become calmer and more cooperative, and overall contributing to a more positive hospital experience through the use of the headsets,” highlighted Tamás Kovács, Clinical Chief Physician at the clinic and professional lead of the project.

An important aspect of the initiative is that, alongside the VR headsets, specialists in Debrecen will also receive a comprehensive methodological background, educational materials and continuous professional consultation opportunities based on the experience of Bethesda Children’s Hospital.

The introduction of the VR headsets will take place gradually. They will first be tested in the emergency department, while the main future area of use is planned to be the haematology ward, where many children regularly return for treatment. In these care situations, it can make a significant difference if blood tests and repeated procedures involve less pain and anxiety.

According to Monday’s statement from the One Foundation, the programme VR Technology in Pain Management is being introduced in Debrecen based on the professional experience of Bethesda Children’s Hospital.

Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Debrecen városa (Facebook)