ELICITING PATIENT COOPERATION IN PAEDIATRIC RADIOGRAPHY WITH INDUCEMENT DEVICES

Purpose: Obtaining good quality images whilst minimizing repeat examinations and radiation dosage in paediatric radiography requires patient co-operation. This study aims to assess the usability of inducement devices to gain child cooperation during paediatric radiography in Lagos, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study design was employed to sample information on the use of child inducement devices by Radiographer and Radiologist during paediatric radiography. A 19-item close ended questionnaire was administered to 70 Radiology personnel consisting of 45 Radiographers and 25 Radiologists. Questions were fashioned in a way to gain insight on best practices to gain the child patient cooperation. Some questions relating to demographics, experience and employment were included. Following collation descriptive statistics were developed. Results: Results showed that paediatric examinations were frequently carried out in the study area (75%). About 87% of respondents were of the opinion that the use of inducement devices aided in the production of better quality images. Light-up (72%) and Musical (27%) toys constituted the most effective inducement devices, and were considered the most valuable (86.9%) toys by Radiology personnel. Conclusion: The results show that the use of inducement devices elicits child cooperation and improves the ease of paediatric examinations.