The Glowing Stars study, led by Professor Persephone Sextou, an expert in Applied Theatre for Health and Wellbeing at Leeds School of Arts, focuses on improving hospital experiences for children undergoing MRI scans. By combining interdisciplinary principles across applied arts with cutting edge digital tools, the study aims to help prepare children aged 4-10 for MRIs in a way that is creative, educational, and engaging.
Professor Persephone Sextou, Professor at Leeds School of Arts, said: “I am delighted at leading this project aiming to make a positive difference to children’s MRI experience and to be able to collaborate with colleagues on this exciting research. By integrating principles from my bedside theatre model in paediatrics, digital literacy and digital health, the Glowing Stars study approaches children’s MRI anxiety and paediatric healthcare in a way that traditional medical approaches alone may not achieve, making healthcare experiences both more manageable and more inclusive for children and their carers.”
For some children, MRI scans can feel intimidating and become a source of anxiety. Glowing Stars aims to investigate if familiarising children with the MRI process through a playful and interactive digital app could prepare them for their scans and reduce their anticipatory anxiety. Using the XPloro app on a tablet, on the day of their scan children can create avatars of themselves, explore a virtual MRI environment, meet a nurse avatar, and even deconstruct the virtual MRI machine to learn about its components. This engaging and educational experience is carefully designed not to distract but to demystify MRIs and help children feel more at ease before their scan.
This is particularly important for children who may go on to have multiple MRI scans in their lifetime or who might otherwise develop negative associations with the procedure. Notably, Glowing Stars includes children as young as four—a younger age group than typically seen in similar studies, which often focus on older children. Early hospital experiences can have lasting emotional impacts, shaping children’s long-term attitudes towards healthcare. By providing a positive introduction – or re-introduction – to MRIs, this project can make a real difference. While Glowing Stars focuses specifically within radiology, its findings could have broader implications for improving paediatric healthcare experiences more widely.
Roya Mohamed, Clinical Trials Assistant on the Children’s Research Team, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are really excited to be working closely with Leeds Beckett University on this important study which has the potential to make a significant difference to young people and their families.
“By helping children feel more prepared and reducing anxiety around MRI scans, we’re benefiting not only the children but also providing peace of mind and reassurance to their caregivers. There is a lot of potential for disseminating our findings more widely to enhance paediatric care.”
The acceptability study is underway at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (2024-2025), working with children scheduled for MRIs and their parents or carers. Their experiences and feedback will be crucial in assessing the acceptability and impact of this project.
Data collection for the study is currently underway at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.