[Presence of parents in pediatric imaging]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitude of French pediatric radiologists regarding the presence or absence of parents during pediatric imaging of their child. A mail survey was sent to the French members of the "Société Francophone de Radiologie Pédiatrique". We asked about the inclusion of parents during pediatric imaging procedures. They gave the reasons for their choice and stated if parental presence was helpful or not for the achievement of imaging procedures. Responses were received from 76% of those surveyed. Excluding vascular and interventional procedures, few respondents (13%) permit parents to be present for all types of examinations. One respondent excluded parents from every procedure. Others excluded parents from selected studies: plain films (18%), upper gastrointestinal series (33%), contrast enema (44%), retrograde (47%) and suprapubic (67%) voiding cystourethrography, intra-venous pyelography (45%), US (5%), CT (27%), MRI (25%). Regarding angiography, only 2% of the respondents allow parental presence. Every respondent performing interventional procedures did not accept parents in the interventional suite. When parents were present, they were close to their child (76%) and could help in his immobilization (47%). Most of the respondents (49%) thought parental presence to affect examination in a favorable way. The opposite opinion was supported by 25% of them. An equivocal response was given in 26% of the answers. Numerous reasons supported these responses, they could be classified according to the child and his illness, the parents, the radiologist and his team, the examination performed. Most pediatric radiologists in France allow parents to accompany their children during selected examinations. Radiologists vary in their perception of how parental presence affects the outcome of the pediatric imaging procedures.