Parents and Radiologists Attitudes Towards Sedation in Pediatric Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Report from Northern Iran

Abstract

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children can cause anxiety and agitation, and sedation is often helpful to obtain high-quality images. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the attitudes of parents and radiologists towards pediatric sedation during imaging. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the radiology departments of university hospitals and private centers in Rasht, Iran, during 2024. Parents of children who underwent MRI and involved radiologists at the mentioned sectors were interviewed to complete questionnaires. Results: Data from 110 parents and 30 radiologists were analyzed. A total of 56.4% of parents were aware of the opportunity to sedate their child for imaging, while 58.2% desired sedation for their children. Additionally, 75.5% believed that anesthesia was harmful to their child, and 80.9% declared that the stressful experience during imaging had a negative impact on their child. Furthermore, 60.9% believed that public media was the most effective method of providing general information to society. Among radiologists, 53.3% stated that paying attention to the child's anxiety during imaging was crucial, and 66.7% intended to inform parents about the adverse effects of anxiety and its psychological damage if they did not accept imaging under sedation due to concerns about the side effects of anesthesia. Moreover, 16.7% were aware of possible complications of pediatric sedation, and 40% had a specific protocol for pediatric sedation in their centers. It was found that academic centers focused more on the topic of neurotoxicity of anesthetic agents (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the level of parental awareness and attitude towards pediatric sedation in imaging procedures needs improvement. In this regard, it is necessary for health policymakers to implement practical interventions.