Children and radiological investigations.

S. Mathers and H. Anderson

NHS Grampian and The Health Services Research Group,

The Robert Gordon University

Aberdeen.

Background

• annually 23,000 children attend Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital for imaging procedures

• approx half of these attend for unscheduled attendance via A&E department or Clinics

....children have anxieties when attending imaging departments.

Chesson, Good and Hart, 2002

Children are major users of health services although they rarely are

consulted about the provision of their health care.

Hart and Chesson, 1998

... some children with chronic illnesses have demonstrated

reluctance to take part in research projects.

Hinton et al 2002

... children’s perceptions of their treatment and care can be

different to those of an adult.

Hillier et al 1986

How do we engage children to cooperate during x-rays?

Funded by a NHS Grampian

Endowment Grant

Aims

• To explore the perceptions and anxieties of children attending for x-rays by the use of– tried and tested

– innovative methods of data collection

• Using this data produce information material in the children’s own words and pictures

Methodology

• Setting– X-ray department, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital

• Participants – Children and young people (aged 7-14 years) attending for non-scheduled

x-ray examinations referred from A&E departments and clinics

• Ethical approval was gained

Tried and tested methods to

engage children in research

Semi-structured interviews before

and after imaging

• 20 participants

‘ use of such an approach (participatory research) implies more than

just a certain perspective or philosophy. Those who employ it must

be prepared to operate in some non-traditional ways...and overall

work in ways they may not have learned about in research class’.

Alvarez and Gutierrez, 2001

Innovative ways to engage

children in research

– Audio booth

• 25 participants

– Use of cameras

• 20 participants

– Graffiti wall

• open to all

Graffiti wall

Background

Walls have been used for feedback at conferences on

• Mental Health• Men’s Health• Carers

• HSRG evaluation of Mental Health Users conference found the graffiti wall was extensively used

• HSRG realised potential value of the wall as a research tool

Methodology

• 2 sheets attached to a free standing board in the x-ray waiting room

• supply of crayons and coloured felt tip pens were available

• starter graffiti added to the wall to encourage use

• information leaflets provided in waiting rooms

Preliminary Findings

• Children appeared reluctant to use the wall

• Would use it once an explanation was given

• Children were more likely to add to the wall if it was already being used

• Several users just added their names

• An older sibling of a patient added an opinion to the wall

Issues

• Some children seemed reluctant to use the wall

• Parents assisted many children

• Can a graffiti wall be transferred from its

natural environment to a clinical setting?

Why innovative methods?

• Catches their imagination and is fun

• Engages with them when other methods do not

• Empowers them to make their feelings known

Watch this space..........

Crossing boundaries?

• Health

• Education

• Arts