Paediatric 99mTc-DMSA imaging: reducing distress and rate of sedation using a psychological approach

• Published in: Clinical radiology Vol. 61; no. 10; pp. 868 - 874
• Main Authors: Train, H., Colville, G., Allan, R., Thurlbeck, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety - prevention & control; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kidney Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Patient Satisfaction; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Radionuclide Imaging - psychology; Radiopharmaceuticals - administration & dosage; Stress, Psychological - prevention & control; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid - administration & dosage; Human; Image quality; Nuclear medicine; Psychological distress; Chelating agent; Radiology; Child; Succimer
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2006.05.009

To evaluate the effect of a psychological approach on distress and sedation rates in children undergoing dimer captosuccinic acid-labelled with technetium-99 (99mTc) DMSA imaging.
Baseline data, on a retrospective consecutive sample of children examined using DMSA over a 6-month period (
n
=
81), were collected via medical note search and postal questionnaire. A further consecutive sample of 40 children was recruited prospectively to the intervention, which consisted of distraction during medical procedures and environmental manipulation. In addition half of the intervention group were provided with a photo-booklet depicting a coping child model, together with a letter offering advice to parents on how to prepare their child for the procedure.
Sedation rates were lower (
p
=
0.003) and service satisfaction ratings higher (
p
=
0.002) in the Intervention group as compared with the Baseline group. Within the intervention condition, children who received the photo-booklet displayed less distress before the procedure (
p
=
0.01) than those who did not. Also families who received the photo-booklet were more likely to attend the appointment (
p
=
0.024).
In this study, the use of a psychological approach was associated with lower rates of distress and sedation in children undergoing 99mTc-DMSA imaging, without compromising image quality.