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MRI Customized Play Therapy in Children Reduces the Need for Sedation - A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of an MRI-specific play therapy intervention on the need for sedation in young children.

Methods

All children in the age group of 4–10 y, who were advised an MRI scan over a period of one year were randomized. Exclusion criteria included children with neurodevelopmental disorders impairing cognition and children who had previously undergone diagnostic MRI. A total of 79 children were randomized to a control or an intervention condition. The intervention involved familiarizing the child with the MRI model machine, listing the steps involved in the scan to the child in vivid detail, training the child to stand still for 5 min, and conducting several dry runs with a doll or a favorite toy. The study was approved by the Institute ethical committee.

Results

The need for sedation was 41 % (n = 16) in the control group and this declined to 20 % (n = 8) in the intervention group (χ2 = 4.13; P = 0.04). The relative risk of sedation decreased by 49 % in the intervention group as compared to the control group (RR 0.49; 95 % CI: 0.24–1.01) and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.04). The absolute risk difference in sedation use between intervention and control group was 21 % (95 % CI 1.3 %–40.8 %). Even on adjusting for age, relative risk of sedation remained significantly lower in children undergoing play therapy as compared to the control (RR 0.57, 95 % CI: 0.32–0.98) with P value of 0.04.

Conclusions

The use of an MRI customized play therapy with pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic MRI resulted in significant reduction of the use of sedation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the help of their medical social worker Miss Suman Gautam who helped in preparing these children for the MRI.

Contributions

All the three authors assisted in contribution of the design of the study. BB and PM drafted the manuscript. PM will act as guarantor for this paper.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Source of Funding

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research Project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Bhavneet Bharti & Prahbhjot Malhi

  2. Department of Radiodiagnosis, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

    N. Khandelwal

Authors
  1. Bhavneet Bharti
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  2. Prahbhjot Malhi
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  3. N. Khandelwal
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Correspondence to Bhavneet Bharti.

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Bharti, B., Malhi, P. & Khandelwal, N. MRI Customized Play Therapy in Children Reduces the Need for Sedation - A Randomized Controlled Trial. Indian J Pediatr 83, 209–213 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-015-1917-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-015-1917-x

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