The Impact of the Environment on Pediatric Patients During Computed Tomography Exams: Experience from a Tertiary Center.

Aim: To assess the impact of the environment on the attitude and mood of pediatric patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) scans at our pediatric clinic within the colorful setting of a dedicated CT scan room. Background: In pediatric healthcare, interventions must address the specific needs of both children and their parents. While medical imaging is essential for diagnosis and management, it can cause stress and anxiety in children, potentially affecting cooperation and diagnostic quality. Creating a supportive, child-friendly environment can alleviate these challenges and improve the likelihood of successful imaging outcomes. Method: This retrospective quantitative study investigated the phenomenological experience of pediatric patients (aged 0-18) who underwent CT imaging at the "De Marchi" pediatric clinic between November 2021 and June 2024. Patients were manually selected from the clinic's CT database. A standardized telephone survey assessed perceived environmental impact before, during, and after the procedure. Data were anonymized and recorded in Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA). Crosstab analyses and Pearson's chi-square tests were performed using SPSS version 25.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: Between November 2021 and June 2024, 838 pediatric patients underwent 1144 CT scans at the "De Marchi" clinic. Patients were grouped as previous-CT elsewhere (12.3%), first-time CT (68.9%), and returning patients (18.8%). Most reported positive experiences: 63.3% of the first group rated the experience better than prior exams, 73.9% of first-time patients found the environment comfortable, and 85.6% of returning patients felt at ease. Overall, 94.2% would recommend the clinic for pediatric CT scans. Conclusions: Our research demonstrates that a child-friendly environment is not just a concept, but a tangible solution that effectively alleviates the stress experienced by young patients and their families during diagnostic exams. This finding should inspire optimism about the potential for creating more reassuring and comfortable hospital settings in pediatric healthcare.