research

BENEFITS OF PLAYING DURING CHEMO

The scientific study that we have carried out together with the medical team of the Hospital La Paz in Madrid shows that paediatric oncology patients with post-chemotherapy mucositis, one of the most painful consequences of the whole treatment, feel less pain when they play video games.

Article from the Journal Of Medical Internet Research:

THE STUDY

During the research, a decrease of 20% in morphine administration in these children and an increase of 14% in parasympathetic tone, which is largely responsible for the recovery of the organism, favouring healing, were found.

The results of our study suggest that video games could be included as non-pharmacological analgesics in paediatric oncological mucositis and thus form part of the health care protocol for these patients.

The data

20% less of morphine consumption by playing video game consoles

The pain felt by the children during the observation was lower because the daily morphine consumption decreased by 20%; this refers to baseline pain and mood, with a decrease of up to 44% being recorded at the moments of greatest intensity, the incidental pain. All this was measured by means of a Visual Analogue Scale.

14% increase in parasympathetic tone, which promotes healing

Acute nociception (conscious perception of pain) is associated with changes in the regulation of the sympathetic-parasympathetic balance. When faced with a physical threat, our body activates the sympathetic system to help us flee from the aggression, but at the same time it acts negatively by increasing blood pressure and heart rate, among other consequences. The way to counteract this situation is by activating the parasympathetic system, which promotes physiological recovery.

One 14% less pain

In this study, children with cancer suffering from mucositis, one of the most painful post-chemotherapy consequences that prevents them from swallowing saliva, were offered to play video games while being monitored with two devices: the Analgesia-Nociception Index Monitor (ANIR), which measures heart rate, and the AlgiscanR video pupillometry system. The result was that there was no change in pupil size despite a lower dose of morphine, indicating a 14% increase in parasympathetic tone and 14% pain relief.

Today, thanks to the efforts of many people, the project has taken shape, allowing children to play in this magical world.

Medical experts speak out

Francisco Reinoso-Barbero, Head of the Pain Unit at La Paz Children's Hospital in Madrid and co-author of the study, points out that "the clinical implications of these findings would be important, because video games could be included as part of the non-pharmacological therapeutic plan for paediatric oncological mucositis".

In the words of Mario Alonso Puig, doctor, lecturer and Honorary Patron of Juegaterapia, "the sympathetic nervous system in children with cancer is activated when faced with a situation as tough as being admitted to hospital. The sympathetic nervous system mobilises the body so that we can flee from a threat, from danger. However, the sick child cannot run away because he is somehow 'anchored' to his chemotherapy.

The Journal of Medical Internet Research

The research has been published in the prestigious scientific journal "Journal of Medical Internet Research" under the title "The Association Between Pain Relief Using Video Games and an Increase in Vagal Tone in Children With Cancer: Analytic Observational Study With a Quasi-Experimental Pre/Posttest Methodology", with the participation of Mario Alonso Puig, Honorary Trustee of the Juegaterapia Foundation, Francisco Reinoso-Barbero, Head of Anaesthesia at La Paz Children's Hospital and member of the Royal Academy of Medicine, Diego Plaza López de Sabando, Mercedes Alonso Prieto, Jordi Miró, and Raquel Torres-Luna.

OF INTEREST

You can watch the full documentary on the following platforms

Amazon Prime Filmin

research

Research Grants

Thanks to the sales of our Baby Pelones we are able to set up research grants in different hospitals. Together we will find a cure for childhood cancer. Do you want to know what we are researching?

Further information