A randomized controlled trial: child life services in pediatric imaging

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Medical Imaging
• Psychosocial Support

Background:

• Child life services, such as those provided by Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS), are known to benefit children and families in healthcare settings.
• The impact of CCLS in pediatric imaging departments is anecdotally recognized but lacks rigorous prospective evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate the effect of a CCLS on parent, child, and staff satisfaction.
• To assess the impact of a CCLS on parent and staff perceptions of child pain and distress in a pediatric imaging setting.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 137 children aged 1-12 undergoing imaging procedures.
• Intervention group received CCLS services; control group received standard care.
• Satisfaction and pain/distress perceptions were measured using Likert scale questionnaires for parents and staff, and a 3-point scale for children aged 4+.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in 19 out of 24 measures compared to the control group.
• Parents reported higher satisfaction and lower perceived child pain/distress.
• Staff noted better child cooperation and lower perceived child pain/distress.
• Children reported better overall experiences and less fear.

Conclusions:

• CCLS interventions demonstrably enhance the care of children in imaging departments.
• Key metrics including parent, staff, and child satisfaction, as well as child pain and distress, are positively influenced by CCLS services.
• These findings support the integration of CCLS to improve healthcare quality and potentially reduce costs.