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[Presence of parents in pediatric imaging]
Insights
Most French pediatric radiologists permit parents during select imaging exams, but practices vary widely. Parental presence can aid in child immobilization and positively influence the imaging procedure outcome.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Child Psychology
Context:
- Parental presence during pediatric imaging is a debated topic.
- Practices and perceptions vary among healthcare professionals.
- Understanding these attitudes is crucial for patient-centered care.
Purpose:
- To assess French pediatric radiologists' attitudes towards parental presence during imaging.
- To identify reasons for allowing or restricting parental accompaniment.
- To evaluate the perceived impact of parental presence on imaging procedures.
Summary:
- A survey of French pediatric radiologists revealed varied policies on parental presence during imaging.
- While most restrict it for certain procedures (e.g., angiography, interventional), many allow it for others.
- Respondents noted benefits like child immobilization and favorable examination outcomes, though opinions were divided.
Impact:
- Findings inform best practices for parental inclusion in pediatric radiology.
- Highlights the need for standardized guidelines and further research.
- Contributes to improving the experience for children and families during medical imaging.
Abstract:
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.