Claustrophobia, an intense fear of confined spaces, can significantly impair the success of MRI examinations by causing patient movement or early termination of the scan, leading to poor image quality. Cardiac coherence, a breathing technique aimed at synchronizing heart rate and reducing anxiety, has shown benefits in stress management. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate whether the use of a guided cardiac coherence exercise during MRI can improve exam success rates and image quality in self-reported claustrophobic patients compared to standard care (cartoons for children, music for adults). The primary outcome is the proportion of interpretable MRI scans with good-quality images, assessed blindly by a radiologist. Secondary outcomes include exam duration, use of the emergency call button, patient satisfaction, and perceived comfort. A total of 220 patients aged 7 years and older will be enrolled over 12 months at the Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild Hospital.
Patient aged 7 years or older
Undergoing a 1.5T or 3T MRI scan as part of routine care
Self-reported claustrophobia on the imaging department admission form
Explicit consent to participate in the study, provided by the patient or a legal representative (for minors)
Patient under legal protection or guardianship
Pregnant or breastfeeding woman
Inability to complete questionnaires and/or perform the cardiac coherence exercise as judged by the investigator
Parallel
cardiac coherence
BehavioralThe exercise consists of slow, rhythmic breathing guided by visual and auditory cues designed to induce a state of physiological calm.
Proportion of interpretable MRI exams with good image quality, rated blindly by a radiologist
This outcome measures the proportion of MRI exams considered interpretable and of good quality, based on image assessment by a radiologist blinded to the intervention group. Any exam for which all planned sequences could not be acquired is considered a failure. Each image is scored on a 5-point scale: No artifacts; Minor artifacts (edges only), not interfering with interpretation; Moderate artifacts, not interfering with interpretation; Significant artifacts, partial interpretation possible; Major artifacts, hindering interpretation. An exam is considered of good quality if all images are rated as 1 or 2.
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