This prospective randomized controlled study evaluates the impact of age-appropriate therapeutic play and structured parental briefing on perioperative anxiety during pediatric MRI under sedation. Children aged 2-11 were assigned to either a multi-modal intervention group or a standard care control group. The primary objective was to measure child anxiety using the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YALE) after the intervention. Secondary objectives included assessing parental anxiety via VAS/APAIS and measuring overall parental satisfaction in the recovery room. The study aims to demonstrate that a brief psychological intervention can effectively reduce stress for both children and their parents, even during prolonged hospital waiting times.
The intervention group receives a multi-modal psychological preparation protocol conducted by trained medical students prior to the MRI procedure. The intervention consists of two main components: Age-Appropriate Therapeutic Play: Children aged 2-7 (Pre-operational stage) receive symbolic medical play using toy kits and masks. Children aged 7-11 (Concrete operational stage) engage in interactive discussions and role-playing for 5-8 minutes. Structured Parental Briefing: Parents receive a standardized oral briefing covering the MRI working principles, duration of the scan, the role of the anesthesia team, and the recovery process. This is followed by a Q\&A session to address specific concerns. The control group receives the routine preoperative preparation protocol of the Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University MRI Center. This standard care includes a pre-anesthetic clinical assessment by the anesthesiology team, verification of fasting status (nil per os), and standard institutional monitoring procedures. Unlike the intervention group, participants in the control group do not receive age-appropriate therapeutic play or a structured, standardized parental briefing session prior to sedation. Interaction with medical staff remains limited to routine clinical and administrative procedures.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
64
The intervention group receives a multi-modal psychological preparation protocol conducted by trained medical students prior to the MRI procedure. The intervention consists of two main components: Age-Appropriate Therapeutic Play: Children aged 2-7 (Pre-operational stage) receive symbolic medical play using toy kits and masks. Children aged 7-11 (Concrete operational stage) engage in interactive discussions and role-playing for 5-8 minutes. Structured Parental Briefing: Parents receive a standardized oral briefing covering the MRI working principles, duration of the scan, the role of the anesthesia team, and the recovery process. This is followed by a Q\&A session to address specific concerns.
Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
Afyonkarahisar, Turkey (Türkiye)
Children's Preoperative Anxiety Levels
Assessed using the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale. The total score ranges from a minimum value of 23.33 to a maximum value of 100. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater severity of preoperative anxiety in the child).
Time frame: Preoperatively, in the waiting room, after the intervention but before the induction of sedation.
Parental Preoperative Anxiety and Information Requirement
Assessed using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). The APAIS is a 6-item instrument consisting of two distinct subscales: a 4-item anxiety subscale and a 2-item information requirement subscale. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 to 5). For the anxiety subscale, the scores range from a minimum value of 4 to a maximum value of 20. For the information requirement subscale, the scores range from a minimum value of 2 to a maximum value of 10. Higher scores on both subscales indicate a worse outcome (higher levels of parental anxiety and a greater need for information, respectively).
Time frame: Preoperatively, in the waiting room, after the intervention but before the induction of sedation.
Parental Preoperative and Postoperative Anxiety Levels
Assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for anxiety. The scale consists of a horizontal line where parents self-report their current anxiety intensity. The scores range from a minimum value of 0 (representing 'no anxiety') to a maximum value of 10 (representing 'the worst possible anxiety'). Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater severity of parental anxiety).
Time frame: Measured at two distinct time points: preoperatively in the waiting room (post-intervention but before the induction of sedation) and postoperatively in the recovery room.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.