Animated educational video to prepare children for MRI without sedation: evaluation of the appeal and value

Szeszak, Szofia; Man, Rachel; Love, Andrew; Langmack, Gill; Wharrad, Heather; Dineen, Robert A.

Abstract

Background: MRI scans can be distressing for children and often require sedation. Educating children about what to expect reduces anxiety and increases likelihood of successful non-sedated MRI scans. Multimedia tools are a popular means of education. Animated video could provide a free, accessible method of preparing children for MRI scans.

Objective: To evaluate a new animation video for preparing children for MRI, specifically for decreasing in-scanner motion and examination failure.

Materials and methods: We recruited 24 healthy children ages 5–11 years. Participants underwent pre- and post-viewing questionnaires and structured interviews. We then compared median Likert scale score changes between pre- and post-animation questions and analyzed the interview framework. Participants were filmed viewing the animation to calculate time spent looking at the screen to assess how well the video retained children’s attention.

Results: There were significant improvements in median scores regarding what to expect, checking for metal and keeping still. There were no significant changes in other knowledge-based topics. There were significant improvements in median scores for anxiety-based topics. On average, children watched the screen for 98.9% of the 174-s animation.

Conclusion: The animation improved knowledge, reduced anxiety, retained attention and was enjoyed by participants. It can be accessed freely via the Internet to help prepare children ages 5–11 for having an MRI scan.

Citation

Szeszak, S., Man, R., Love, A., Langmack, G., Wharrad, H., & Dineen, R. A. (2016). Animated educational video to prepare children for MRI without sedation: evaluation of the appeal and value. Pediatric Radiology, 46(12), 1744-1750. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-016-3661-4

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 21, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 27, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Deposit Date: Nov 21, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 21, 2016
• Journal: Pediatric Radiology
• Print ISSN: 0301-0449
• Electronic ISSN: 1432-1998
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 1744-1750
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-016-3661-4
• Keywords: Child, Education, Magnetic resonance imaging, Multi-media, Preparation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/804287
• Publisher URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00247-016-3661-4
• Additional Information: The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00247-016-3661-4