Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2025
Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure
Published on: July 30, 2009
Interventions and methods to prepare, educate or familiarise children and young people for radiological procedures: a
Lucy Bray1, Lisa Booth2, Victoria Gray3
1Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine, Child Health Literacy, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK. brayl@edgehill.ac.uk.
Insights
Preparing children for radiological procedures using non-invasive methods like apps and storybooks can improve their experience and scan quality. More research is needed to determine which specific preparation elements are most effective for children undergoing medical imaging.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Medical Education
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Children often experience anxiety and distress during radiological procedures, impacting scan quality and necessitating repeat scans or sedation.
- Preparation and education are known to positively influence outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing medical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of non-invasive interventions for preparing, educating, and familiarizing children for radiological procedures.
- To examine the evidence base for interventions aimed at improving pediatric experiences and outcomes in radiology.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search identified 36 relevant articles.
- A narrative synthesis approach was used to analyze the findings from the selected studies.
- The review considered various radiological procedures (e.g., MRI, CT, X-ray) and interventions (e.g., apps, storybooks, videos, mock scanners).
Main Results:
- A wide range of interventions and outcome measures were identified across the studies.
- Interventions varied significantly in their method, delivery, and target audience.
- Inconsistent application of outcome measures made it challenging to determine the optimal interventions for scan quality, completion, and patient experience.
Conclusions:
- Further research is required to identify the most effective elements of non-invasive interventions for children undergoing radiological procedures.
- There is a need for standardized outcome measures, including child-centered outcomes, alongside scan quality and procedure length.
Abstract:
Children attending hospital for radiological procedures can experience uncertainty, anxiety and distress; this can result in sub-optimal experiences for children, poor scan quality and the need for radiological procedures to be rescheduled or sedation to be used. The preparation and education of children before clinical procedures has been shown to have a positive influence on procedural outcomes. This scoping review aimed to locate and examine the evidence relating to non-invasive interventions and methods to prepare, educate and familiarise children for radiological procedures within a healthcare setting. A comprehensive search strategy identified 36 articles. A narrative synthesis approach was adopted to make sense of the key findings. Studies investigated a range of radiological procedures (MRI, plain radiographs, CT, fluoroscopy and Micturating cystourethrogram) using a wide range of interventions (smartphone applications, storybooks, videos, mock scanners) which varied by method, mode of delivery and target audience. The outcomes used to evaluate the value and impact of the interventions are wide, varied and inconsistently applied making it difficult to judge which interventions offer the optimal impact on scan quality, scan completion and children's experiences. This review highlights that there is a need to further understand which specific elements of the non-invasive interventions 'work best' for children. There is a need for consistency on the outcomes measured and for these measures to include child-centred outcomes alongside scan quality and length of radiological procedure.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
01:30Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
01:14Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:30Radiological Investigation II: MRI and Ventilation Perfusion Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ventilation Perfusion Scans are two radiological investigations that offer detailed diagnostic images of the body, particularly lung structures.
MRI
MRI uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency signals to distinguish between normal and abnormal tissues. This technology provides a more detailed diagnostic image than CT scans, enabling it to characterize pulmonary nodules, stage bronchogenic carcinoma, and evaluate inflammatory activity in...