Reviewing the process of preparing children for MRI

Area of Science:

• Pediatric imaging
• Medical psychology
• Healthcare interventions

Background:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) requires patients, especially children, to remain still for extended periods.
• The MRI environment can induce significant anxiety and distress in children, often necessitating general anesthesia.
• A practice MRI intervention was developed to mitigate these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a practice MRI intervention program for pediatric patients.
• To determine if this intervention could reduce the need for general anesthesia in children undergoing MRI.

Main Methods:

• The intervention utilized a mock MRI unit without magnets, guided by educational play therapists.
• Data collected included patient demographics, scan details, and outcomes like movement artifact.
• Statistical analysis was performed using Epidata and Stata.

Main Results:

• 291 children participated, with a mean age of 7.9 years.
• 74.9% of children successfully passed the practice session.
• 96% of children who completed the practice session proceeded to obtain diagnostic-quality MRI scans.

Conclusions:

• Practice MRI intervention, supported by educational play therapists, is an effective strategy.
• This intervention aids children in managing MRI procedures without requiring general anesthesia.
• The program demonstrates significant utility in pediatric medical imaging.