Video game kit easing pain and anxiety for young hospital patients in Red Deer

Nov 19, 2022 | 12:41 PM

A little bit of virtual reality is brightening the days of young patients at Red Deer Regional Hospital.

Recently delivered was a Starlight Nintendo Switch Handheld kit, provided by Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada. The program is supported by the Ardene Foundation.

Accessible in all areas of the hospital, the kit offers a bit of normalcy and distraction for pediatric patients undergoing a wide array of medical procedures.

The kits are also infection control-friendly, and come with a foam-padded case that is easily wipeable.

“Many of our Starlight children are not only bravely coping with a serious illness but also with the fear and isolation that can accompany regular or extended hospital stays,” says Brian Bringolf, C.E.O. Starlight Canada. “We hope programming like the Starlight Nintendo Switch Handheld can give kids a chance to decompress and unwind in an extremely high-stress situation. We’re eternally grateful to our partner the Ardene Foundation for helping to make this available to countless ill children in hospitals across Canada.”

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A medical study conducted in 2019 found that virtual reality is an effective distraction intervention to reduce pain and anxiety for pediatrics patients.

A total of 54 devices have been delivered to hospitals across Canada.

The Switch handheld kit is a portable version of the Starlight Fun Centre.

For more information, visit http://www.starlightcanada.org.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Video game kit easing pain and anxiety for young hospital patients in Red Deer

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