The effect of an Augmented reality game on pain and fear levels and care satisfaction during allergy testing in children aged 4–12: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of an augmented reality game on children’s recalled pain and fear, as well as care satisfaction, immediately after an allergy skin prick test, comparing outcomes between an augmented reality intervention group and a control group. Design This is a parallel-group randomized controlled study with a post-test-only assessment approach. Methods This study was conducted in a pediatric outpatient clinic in Türkiye with a total of 66 children aged 4-12 years between August 2023 and May 2025. Children undergoing allergy skin testing were randomly assigned to augmented reality intervention or the control group. Fear, pain, and care satisfaction were assessed via child self-report immediately after the skin prick test, capturing the child’s recall of the procedural experience. A baseline imbalance in prior allergy testing experience between groups was observed and addressed in adjusted analyses. Results Children in the augmented reality group exhibited significantly lower recalled fear levels compared to the control group (p = .009 and Cohen’s d = 0.73). Additionally, care satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the intervention group (p