Elizabeth Ann Olear MA, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Mary Ann Triest BA, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Diego Jaramillo MD, MPH, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To quantitatively determine the total anxiety experienced by children scheduled for an MR examination and to determine the effectiveness of an intervention to prepare children for MRI without sedation.

This was a randomized controlled trial of 24 children (mean age, 8.8 years; range 6-11) scheduled for MRI without sedation or anesthesia. One group received an intervention consisting of medical teaching, play therapy and answering of questions; the control group received routine preparation consistent with hospital procedures for any child undergoing MRI. Total anxiety level was determined by the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, a 37 question self-report, yes-no instrument administered both pre- and post- preparation.

Total anxiety Pre- and Post- preparation was analyzed for both groups. In the intervention group, mean anxiety levels were 45.5 before preparation and 39.3 after preparation. The mean anxiety decrease of 6.2 was significant with p < 0.006 and 95% confidence intervals between 1.96-10.61. For the control group, there was essentially no anxiety decrease (mean decrease = 0.57) between the pre- and post- analysis with 95% confidence intervals between -2.8 and 3.9. The anxiety decrease was significantly greater (p < 0.02) for the intervention group than for the control group.

Preliminary data suggest that use of an MR-preparation and anxiety-reduction intervention in the form of medical teaching, answering of patients' specific questions and play therapy is directly correlated with a decrease in the level of total anxiety experienced by the patient.

Olear, E, Triest, M, Jaramillo, D, Reduction of MR-Related Anxiety in Children: Analysis of an Intervention.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4409646.html