Positive Effects of a psychological preparation program for MRI “iMReady” in children with cognitive issues – how to meet the patients’ needs best

Abstract Background A growing body of evidence has supported alternatives to sedation and general anesthesia for increasing treatment compliance of children during MRI examinations. Particularities in children with a brain tumor (frequency of examinations, neuropsychological deficits (attention, memory)) have a significant impact on methods and are given special consideration in this study. The aim of the present study was to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of an MRI training program and to investigate the moderating factors for successful MRI examination for a group of young patients with pediatric brain tumors and/or NF1 and (2) to examine the effect of the training on the patient’s well-being. Methods A total of 87 patients of the neuro-oncology unit (mean age: 6.83 years) underwent a two-step program to prepare children for MRI, including an in vitro strategy training inside the scanner and were recorded using a process-oriented screening (emotional wellbeing and level of information), which was developed for this purpose. All data was analyzed retrospectively and the data of a subgroup of 17 patients was also analyzed prospectively (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04474678). Results 81% of the children who had received MRI training managed to successfully undergo the MRI scan without sedation and/or anesthesia making the success rate almost five times as high as in the group that did not receive the intervention. Memory, attentional difficulties, and hyperactivity were significant neuropsychological moderators for successful or unsuccessful scanning. Furthermore, the training was effective in improving the psychological well-being of the patients. Conclusion Based on the results, the MRI training is an effective alternative to sedation of young patients for MRI examinations and a promising tool for improving patient well-being related to the diagnostic procedure. However, specialized psychological staff and an interdisciplinary approach are required to adapt the intervention to the children’s individual neuropsychological needs. Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04474678