Claustrophobia in magnetic resonance imaging: A randomised controlled trial of immersive entertainment glasses

Abstract

Introduction: Patients who define themselves as claustrophobic are often unwilling to undergo closed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this research is to determine the effectiveness of immersive entertainment glasses and person-centred care to successfully perform an MRI and to reduce anxiety levels in individuals who identify themselves as having claustrophobia. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2022 in an imaging department of a University Hospital. The MRI scans were performed using a 1.5T Signa Explorer MRI. Participants were randomly assigned to either the control group (CG), which received specific person-centred care for claustrophobia, or the intervention group (IG), which received specific person-centred nursing care plus immersive entertainment glasses. The sample size was 226 individuals (114 IG and 112 CG). Results: A total of 189 participants (83.6 %) successfully completed the test from a cohort where previously 49,7 % couldn't complete the MRI. Lower body weight was associated with a higher likelihood of completing the MRI than higher body weight (p = 0.01). No statistically significant differences in anxiety were observed between the groups, nor in anxiety level changes during or after the test. Conclusion: The high result in completing the test may be attributed to the fact that the actual impact is the person-centred approach more than immersive entertainment glasses. Implications for practice: Patients who were previously unable to undergo MRI can now successfully complete the procedure in a significantly higher proportion of cases because of patient-centred care. This advancement improves diagnostic accuracy and supports better clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov with ID NCT05304143 Trial and protocol registration: Clinical trial registration is at Clinicaltrials.gov with ID: NCT05304143 (https://trial.medpath.com/clinical-trial/e85ba4987305ba9e/nct05304143-efficacy-immersive-enter-tainment-glasses-magnetic-resonance-imaging).