Improving Pediatric Radiography Patient Stress, Mood, and Parental Satisfaction Through Positive Environmental Distractions: A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

To evaluate how a positive environmental distraction intervention impacted pediatric radiography patient behavioral stress-responses, mood states, and parental satisfaction.

Methods: Behavioral observation, rating scales, surveys on 182 pediatric patients and their parents randomly assigned to three positive distraction levels (minimum, light, light and animation).

Results: Under interventional conditions, patients exhibited less low-stress coping behaviors (ps<0.001-0.007) and more verbal behaviors indicating positive affect (p=0.003); parents more favorably rated environmental pleasantness (ps<0.001), sense of environmental control (ps=0.002), and willingness to return and recommend the facility (ps=0.001-0.005).

Conclusion: The intervention improved pediatric radiography experience but needs further investigation in more stressful settings.

Keywords: Pediatric radiography environment; Perception of physical environment; Positive distractions; Stress; Willingness to return and recommend.