600 hospitals to receive free LEGO kits to help relieve anxiety among children undergoing MRI scans
LEGO is giving away 600 MRI Scanner model kits to hospitals to support anxious young patients through the procedure
Hospitals are being given the opportunity to apply for free Lego kits designed to ease anxiety in children undergoing MRI scans.
The LEGO Foundation is encouraging radiology departments worldwide to apply to receive one of 600 LEGO MRI Scanners, which have been developed with a child-centered focus and learning-through-play approach to help mitigate anxiety in children through the medium of play.
Clinicians can facilitate role play with the children using the LEGO MRI Scanner model, helping the child to better understand the process and take control of their own journey.
Built by LEGO volunteers, the models will be shipped completely free of charge to hospitals.
Once distributed, the LEGO Foundation will generate insights from participating hospitals to continue building evidence-based research and, in turn, guide potential future projects.
The project started in 2015 as a passion project for LEGO employee, Erik Ullerlund Staehr, and Odense University Hospital in Denmark.
It is now being scaled and piloted with new training material for hospital staff.
The kits were the brainchild of LEGO chemical technician, Erik Ullerlund Staehr and help children to learn through play
The team developed the sets as a way to help children navigate the often-daunting and intimidating process of having an MRI scan.
They are designed around the child’s MRI treatment and provide a means for clinicians to facilitate both role play and dialogue so the child feels safe and can build confidence and resilience before the actual journey, in turn reducing stress and anxiety.
Ullerlund Staehr, chemical technician at the LEGO Group, said: "I’m extremely proud of this project and the positive impact it’s already had.
“I’ve seen first-hand how children have responded to these models; making them feel more relaxed and turning an often-highly-stressful experience into a positive, playful one.
From making a few LEGO MRI models with other LEGO employees in our free time, it’s amazing to see the project now being rolled out more broadly.”
Play motivates a child’s natural curiosity and openness to try new, and sometimes difficult, experiences.
And, because play facilitates a safe and comfortable ‘training space’ for real-life events and consequences, it is a powerful way for children to develop their social and emotional skills.
Since the first prototype was made, the radiology department team at Odense University Hospital has used the LEGO MRI Scanners as part of its playful learning approach to help over 200 children aged four to nine annually.
Ulla Jensen from the Department of Radiology at Odense University Hospital Denmark, said: “MRI Scanners are huge machines and they also make a lot of noise, which can be very daunting for children.
“Our team have found that use of models such as the LEGO model has led to more-positive, calm experiences for many children.
This benefits the child, their family, and also the quality of the MRI scan, which relies on the person being very still for up to an hour.”
The model comes with close to 500 elements and measures 13cm wide, 25,5cm long, and 10,5cm high.
The LEGO Foundation will donate 600 models to the first 600 eligible applicants. Applicants must be based in a radiology department at a hospital, with an existing MRI scanning facility for use with children and adolescents.
To access the request form click here.