Purpose or Case Report: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exams can be anxiety-provoking for children, often requiring sedation or anesthesia to ensure completion of the scan. Sedation presents disadvantages including physiological side effects, logistical challenges, prolonged waiting times, and higher costs. Furthermore, some medical facilities lack sedation infrastructures, necessitating longer travel for MRI appointments.
Methods & Materials: This study evaluates an off-the-shelf, comprehensive coaching solution (Philips, the Netherlands), tailored to pediatric MRI needs, that includes preparation and coaching at home with an educational smartphone application; in the hospital using a miniature educational scanner; and during the MRI scan through audio-visual distraction and guidance. Unified by consistent characters and narratives, it is designed to provide comfort and familiarity throughout the care process by targeting core learning objectives. In the current study, the solution was integrated into the MRI workflows of five different hospitals; staff and caregivers experiences were measured using surveys. This abstract presents preliminary results from two participating hospitals.
Results: Initial findings show hospital staff of both hospitals to be very likely to recommend the solution to other facilities, acknowledging its positive impact on children's well-being during MRI scans (M= 5.6; on a 6-point scale). Staff reports reduced preparation times, better patient cooperation, and increased ability for awake scanning (M=4.8, M=5.3, M=6.0, respectively; on a 6-point scale). Feedback from 20 caregivers reflected unanimous belief that the solution improved understanding of the scan process for them and their children (5-12 years old); familiarized children with MRI sounds; mitigating fears; and positively affecting children’s emotional well-being (M=5.9, M=5.7, M=5.7, M=5.7, respectively; on a 6-point scale).
Conclusions: Integrating a holistic preparation solution significantly enhances children’s MRI experience. It may facilitate awake scanning of children, which could improve access to MRI by reducing reliance on scarce specialized staff and decreasing waiting times, while maintaining patient comfort and minimizing children’s anxiety, providing a positive healthcare experience.