JAKARTA - Children's fear of MRI examinations is a major challenge in radiology rooms.
The sound of the machine pounding, the narrow tube room and the ban on moving often make this important medical process end in tears, anxiety and sedation needs.
This challenge is what prompted the ASEAN Foundation, United Way Worldwide and the Lego Group to expand the "CALM MRI - Fear to Confidence: Learning Through Play" program in Indonesia and Singapore.
The program utilizes the Lego MRI Scanner, a mini replica of an MRI machine to guide children to understand the examination process through play.
"In 2025, as many as 648 sets of Lego MRI Scanners will be distributed, 324 sets in Indonesia and 324 sets in Singapore," wrote the ASEAN Foundation management in its statement, quoted Tuesday, December 30.
In Indonesia, the approach has begun to merge with the flow of preparation for examinations at a number of medical and educational institutions. The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Indonesia (FKUI), Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), including the Department of Radiology, the Faculty of Medicine of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, the Faculty of Nursing of Padjadjaran University and the Faculty of Nursing Sciences of the University of Indonesia are involved in the implementation of the method.
The assistance is also strengthened by the Yellow Ribbon Foundation of Jakarta and Yogyakarta which provides a safe space for children to practice understanding the MRI process through simple, but accurate simulations.
Medical students, nursing students, volunteers, and professional health workers are involved to ensure that education remains in accordance with medical standards, but does not eliminate the element of comfort for children's patients.
The approach targets children undergoing long-term treatment for serious conditions, ranging from cancer, tumors, leukemia, epilepsy, neurological disorders to infections and organ inflammation that often require follow-up imaging.
The change in the child's behavior was visible during the implementation of the program. Rio, for example, used to cry all the time when taken to the MRI room because of his bad experience before.
After the Lego MRI session, he understood the loud noise of the machine was part of the process, not a threat.
At the next examination, Rio entered with more confidence, even trying to lie down himself.
In Yogyakarta, the five children accompanied by Pita Kuning, namely Farrel, Vania, Nayla, Iffah and Faiz, showed new enthusiasm, were easier to communicate with and better understood the process they would face.
Globally, the Lego MRI Scanner has been utilized in various countries.
Health workers reported that children's anxiety decreased significantly after the game simulation.
In some cases, the need for sedation can even be reduced because the child already has better emotional readiness.
Through the collaboration of these three international institutions, the CALM MRI program emphasizes the importance of a play-based approach in child health services.
By giving children space to understand medical procedures through positive experiences, the program presents a more friendly treatment process while empowering children to face their fears.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
