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.

Keywords: chronic wounds; dressing change; eye trackers; pain management.

Figure 1

Application of the eye tracker technology in patients with chronic wounds. A – General appearance of the eye tracker device and the computer – throwing cakes into faces. B – The example of a sitting patient. C – the example of a lying patient. D – laptop with an eye tracking device placed on a surgical table

Figure 2

The degree of pain perceived by patients on the VAS scale. A – Daily pain sensation depending on the gender of the patient; B – daily pain sensation depending on the place of living; C – daily pain sensation depending on the age group; D – percentage of patients’ pain sensation depending on the age; E – pain level depending on the level of education; F – type of education in particular groups; G – pain level depending on the type of education; H – daily pain or discomfort level depending on the level of education

Figure 3

The impact of eye tracking games on pain sensation during the dressing change; A – the correlation between daily pain sensation (in VAS scale) and pain during dressing change without eye trackers; B – correlation between daily pain and pain during dressing change with eye trackers

Figure 4

The level of pain or discomfort during the period of wound healing: A – daily pain sensation depending on the length of wound non-healing period; B – painkiller intake depending on the length of the wound non-healing period; C – VAS daily pain depending on the length of the wound non-healing period; D – VAS daily pain depending on the length of wound non-healing period

Figure 5

Painkiller intake among patients with chronic wounds; A – painkiller intake depending on daily pain sensation; B – painkiller intake depending on the level of pain