Positive Distraction in Pediatric Healthcare Waiting Spaces: Sharing Play Not Germs through Inclusive, Hands-Free Interactive Media

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To investigate the value of shared opportunities for positive distraction in pediatric healthcare environments.

Methods: Self-selected activities of 271 young people (5–19 years) with diverse neurodevelopmental conditions were observed in an ambulatory pediatric rehabilitation clinic. Shared opportunities included hands-free media (nature video or interactive media) and an aquarium. Anxiety was self-reported on the State Trait Anxiety Scale upon arrival and after 10 minutes in the waiting space.

Results: Young people engaged more with shared opportunities for distraction (n = 170/271) than personal items brought from home (n = 119/271), p = 0.02. Personal electronic devices were used by 67 young people, but did not positively impact anxiety. Interactive media and the aquarium significantly reduced anxiety (p < 0.04) while the nature video appeared to increase anxiety (p = 0.036). Age influenced activity preference and anxiety. Shared, hands-free interactive media engaged individuals of diverse age and mobility.

Conclusion: Shared opportunities for positive distraction in healthcare facilities are valuable, particularly hands-free interactive media.

KEYWORDS:

• Anxiety
• disability
• hospitals
• multimedia
• pediatric
• smartphone

Acknowledgements

The authors report no declarations of interest. This research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research under award number MOP-114980 and the Ward Family Summer Student Research Program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. We thank Nature’s Waiting Video Systems for providing the nature video used in this study. We thank Steven Bernstein and Tom Nantais for their contributions to the design of the interactive media and the behaviour mapping software. We would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Emily Lam and Matthew Dawson for their contributions to data analysis. We extend our sincere gratitude to our study participants and to the many people who contributed to the creation of ScreenPlay including the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation.

Declaration of interest

None of the authors have a conflict of interest to disclose.

Financial disclosure

None of the authors have a financial relationship relevant to this article to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [MOP-114980];This work was funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), grant number: MOP-114980.