Children's and parents' perceptions of care during the peri-radiographic process when the child is seen for a suspected fracture

• Children seen for an acute radiographic examination were satisfied with the provided care.
• The radiographers were perceived as both skilled and sensitive to the children's needs.
• Children experienced pain and distress during examination on levels ranging from mild to severe.
• The allocated time for the children to ask questions were not sufficiently covered.
• It is suggested that routines be implemented to reduce children's pain and distress during examination.

BackgroundVisiting a Radiology department may elicit both positive and negative feelings for children and parents alike. This study investigated children's and parents' perceptions of care during the peri-radiographic process and whether these perceptions correlated with the child's perceptions of pain and distress.MethodsThis study utilized a quantitative descriptive design. Its data was collected in five Radiology departments, two where examinations are performed exclusively on children and three that treat both children and adults. Data collection contained questionnaires from children (n = 110) and their parent (n = 110) as well as children's self-reports of pain and distress.ResultsThe findings illustrated that the children and their parent were satisfied with the care provided throughout the peri-radiographic process, unrelated to the child's self-reported levels of pain and distress or examination setting (i.e. children's department or general department). The highest scores of satisfaction were ascribed to “the radiographer's kindness and ability to help in a sufficient way,” whereas “available time to ask questions and to meet the child's emotional needs” received the lowest scores.ConclusionsParents and children alike perceived the radiographers as skilled and sensitive throughout the examination, while radiographers' time allocated to interacting with the child was not perceived be sufficiently covered.