Magnetic resonance imaging related anxiety and workflow: impact of a child-friendly audio-visual intervention

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the diagnostic imaging modality of choice for pediatric patients. However, it can be challenging to scan young children awake while maintaining a high image quality with an efficient, patient-friendly workflow.

We investigated if an audio-visual intervention with specially designed pediatric content could reduce MRI-related patient anxiety and workflow-issues in children during an awake MRI.

In six European hospitals, children (n = 175; aged 6-12 years) were scanned with child-friendly content (intervention) or without (control). Staff recorded children's stress levels before, during, and after the MRI on a 6-point Likert scale. Scan issues (i.e., repeat scans and interruptions) were recorded by staff and extracted from the MRI logfiles.

The stress level of young children (aged 6-10 years) in the intervention group decreased more strongly from before to after the MRI compared to the control group, F_(2,96) = 7.84, P < 0.001. They also had significantly fewer scan issues as reported by staff, F_(1,169) = 8.36, P = 0.004, Cohen's d = 0.58, and as logged by the MRI system, F_(1,156) = 8.10, P = 0.005, Cohen's d = 0.45. The used pediatric content showed no significant effects on older children (aged 10 + years).

A child-friendly audio-visual intervention can help reduce stress levels of young children (aged 6-10 years) and support a smooth workflow.

NCT05089955, date: 2021-10-22.