An MRI scan can be a daunting experience for children. The unfamiliar surroundings, the loud noise of the scanner and the need to lie still for long periods often cause anxiety and stress. To improve this experience, Philips and The Walt Disney Company are joining forces worldwide. For the first time, popular Disney stories and characters are being integrated into the MRI environment of Philips Ambient Experience systems in hospitals and diagnostic centres.
The collaboration aims to help young patients feel more at ease during imaging examinations and can simultaneously contribute to more efficient care processes.
Anxiety during MRI scans
MRI scans play a key role in the diagnosis of a wide range of conditions. For children, however, these examinations often present a challenge. An MRI scanner is large, makes a lot of noise and requires patients to lie still for up to forty minutes.
Research shows that around two-thirds of children experience anxiety during an MRI scan. This anxiety can lead to motion artefacts, repeat scans or even scans being cut short. In some cases, sedation is necessary to carry out the scan successfully.
This not only affects the patient and their family, but also places additional pressure on healthcare professionals and available MRI capacity.
Stories as a distraction
Philips Ambient Experience has long used audiovisual elements to help patients relax. With this new collaboration, this approach is being expanded to include well-known characters and stories from the Disney universe.
Before and during the scan, children can choose from various themes, ranging from Mickey Mouse and Disney princesses to characters from Marvel and Star Wars. The images, sounds and lighting effects are integrated into the MRI environment, transforming the clinical setting into a more familiar and playful environment.
According to Philips, this form of distraction can contribute to a greater sense of relaxation and ensure that children are better able to lie still during the scan. This ultimately also improves image quality.
In 2021, Philips introduced an app with a virtual buddy (in Dutch), specifically designed to prepare young children for an MRI scan and thereby make the experience much less stressful, for parents too. In the app, young children were guided through the MRI examination process by a virtual buddy. This allowed the children to virtually practise the MRI scan with the buddy, operating the scanner themselves. The buddy also gave tips on how to lie still so that the scan would be successful.
Impact on stress and workflow
The decision to create a child-friendly MRI environment is based on previous research. A multicentre study, conducted in six European hospitals, examined the impact of Ambient Experience with Disney themes on young patients.
In children aged between six and ten, the perceived stress level fell by 43 per cent after the scan compared to the situation prior to the scan. In addition, the number of interruptions during MRI scans decreased by 63 per cent compared to standard procedures.
According to the researchers, such interventions not only contribute to a better patient experience but also to a more efficient use of MRI capacity. Fewer interruptions and repeats mean that healthcare providers can carry out more examinations without compromising the quality of diagnostics.
Child-friendly care
The collaboration is part of a broader trend in which technology is being used not only to improve diagnostics but also to enhance the care experience. Philips has long been investing in child-focused innovations within medical imaging, including solutions such as Pediatric Coaching, Scan Buddy and special MRI concepts for children.
Disney also has a long-standing global commitment to children’s hospitals and paediatric care. Through partnerships with healthcare institutions, the company develops programmes and environments designed to make hospital visits less stressful for children and their families.
The Disney themes are exclusively integrated within Philips Ambient Experience for MRI systems and are now available in 87 countries. Initial implementations are taking place in European pilot hospitals and institutions such as Rady Children’s Health in the United States and Calderdale Royal Hospital in the United Kingdom.
By combining medical technology with well-known stories, both organisations hope to contribute to a more patient-centred imaging experience, focusing not only on the quality of the scan but also on the child’s well-being.
Read more about Philips Ambient Experience and the newly introduced Disney-themed content
