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Interactive media as a tool for reducing waiting anxiety at paediatric rehabilitation hospitals: a randomized
Elaine Biddiss1,2,3, Tara Joy Knibbe1,3, Darcy Fehlings1,3,4
1Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Insights
Interactive media significantly reduced anxiety in young people with disabilities during hospital waiting times. This technology also improved satisfaction for parents and clinic staff, enhancing the overall healthcare experience.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare design
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Human-computer interaction
Background:
- Waiting room anxiety is a common issue for children with disabilities and their families.
- Current waiting room environments may not adequately address the unique needs of young patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of interactive media in reducing anxiety and improving satisfaction in a pediatric rehabilitation setting.
- To evaluate the impact of different media types (interactive vs. passive) on patient and parent anxiety levels.
Main Methods:
- A clustered, parallel, randomized controlled trial involving 310 young people with disabilities and their parents.
- Participants were assigned to interactive media, silent nature video, or media-free groups.
- Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); satisfaction was assessed via questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Interactive media led to a significant reduction in state anxiety for young people compared to the control group.
- No significant difference in anxiety was observed between the passive media and control groups.
- Interactive media use was associated with increased satisfaction for parents and overwhelmingly positive feedback from staff.
Conclusions:
- Accessible, hands-free interactive media can effectively alleviate waiting room anxiety for pediatric patients with disabilities.
- Interactive media enhances patient and family satisfaction, contributing to a more positive healthcare environment.
- Findings provide evidence for designing and implementing inclusive media solutions in healthcare waiting areas.
Aim:
To investigate the efficacy of waiting room media for reducing anxiety and increasing satisfaction at a paediatric rehabilitation hospital.
Method:
In this clustered, parallel, randomized controlled trial, 310 young people with disabilities (age range 5-19y) and their parents attending outpatient clinics were assigned to interactive media (n=113), a silent nature video (n=97), or media-free comparison (n=100) groups. Young person and parent anxiety was reported using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) on arrival and after 10 minutes in the waiting space. Questionnaires measured young person, parent, and staff satisfaction.
Results:
Young people exposed to interactive media reported a postexposure state anxiety that was 1.1 raw points (2.7 standardized points) lower on the STAI than the comparison group (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.9 to -0.22). There was no difference in postexposure state anxiety between the passive media and comparison groups (95% CI -0.64 to 1.1). Parents' state anxiety did not differ between conditions, but interactive media were associated with greater satisfaction (p=0.009). Of 120 staff, 119 reported that interactive media improved the clinic experience for families.
Interpretation:
Interactive media designed for accessible, hands-free play mitigate waiting anxiety and increases satisfaction. This paper provides evidence to guide design and decision-making around the use of interactive media in health care spaces.
What This Paper Adds:
Interactive media reduced preclinic waiting anxiety for young people with disabilities. Interactive media were accessible to young people with a range of mobility. Interactive media increased parental and staff satisfaction in the clinic. Guidelines for the design of hands-free, inclusive interactive media for health care facilities are presented.
