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