Anyone attending a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) start at PCH recently will have been offered the chance to use our new Virtual Reality googles also known as ‘SmileyScope’.
The SmileyScope goggles were purchased by the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation for use to improve coping and reduce distress around the timing of the CGM insertion.
During a trial in August 2021, the goggles were offered to children with the option of a pre-insertion relaxation interactive video (for those that wanted to watch the insertion), or an interactive underwater video designed distract during insertion.
Parents, children, and nursing staff found the use of the goggles supportive with many parents agreeing and strongly agreeing that the SmileyScope helped the child tolerate the procedure.
With SmileyScope use embedded in the CGM workshop, we are now extending the use of SmileyScope out to other services such as insulin pump starts.
If you feel that SmileyScope will support your visit to PCH, please discuss with your clinical team and we can arrange to have this at your appointment.