When children and young people (CYP) are diagnosed with a brain tumour, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is key to the clinical management of this condition. This can produce hundreds, and often thousands, of Magnetic Resonance Images (MRIs). Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 14 families (15 parents and 8 patients), and analysed using Grounded Theory. Analysis was supported by the Framework Method. Although the focus of the research was whether paediatric patients and their families find viewing MRIs beneficial, all patients and parents discussed difficult times during the illness and using various strategies to cope. This article explores the identified coping strategies that involved MRIs, and the role that MRIs can play in coping. Coping strategies were classified under the aim of the strategy when used: ‘Normalising’; ‘Maintaining hope and a sense of the future’; ‘Dealing with an uncertain future’; and ‘Seeking Support’. Coping and finding ways to cope are clearly used by patients and their families and are something that they wish to discuss, as they were raised in conversations that were not necessarily about coping. This suggests clinicians should always allow time and space (in appointments, consultations, or impromptu conversations on the ward) for patient families to discuss ways of coping. MRIs were found to be used in various ways: to maintain or adapt normal; maintain hope and a sense of the future; deal with an uncertain future; and seek support from others. Clinicians should recognise the potential for MRIs to aid coping and if appropriate, suggest that families take copies of scans (MRIs) home. Professional coaches or counsellors may also find MRIs beneficial as a way to remind families that the child is in a more stable or ‘better’ place than they have been previously.

中文翻译：

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磁共振图像 (MRI) 在应对脑肿瘤患者及其父母方面的作用：一项定性研究

当儿童和青少年 (CYP) 被诊断患有脑肿瘤时，磁共振成像 (MRI) 是临床治疗这种疾病的关键。这可以生成数百甚至数千张磁共振图像 (MRI)。对 14 个家庭（15 个父母和 8 个患者）进行了半结构化访谈，并使用扎根理论进行了分析。分析得到框架方法的支持。尽管研究的重点是儿科患者及其家人是否认为观看 MRI 有益，但所有患者和家长都讨论了疾病期间的困难时期，并使用各种策略来应对。本文探讨了已确定的涉及 MRI 的应对策略，以及 MRI 在应对中可以发挥的作用。应对策略根据使用时的策略目标进行分类：“正常化”；“保持希望和对未来的感觉”；“应对不确定的未来”；和“寻求支持”。患者及其家人显然使用应对和寻找应对方法，并且是他们希望讨论的事情，因为他们是在不一定与应对有关的对话中提出的。这表明临床医生应始终为患者家属留出时间和空间（在预约、咨询或在病房即兴交谈中）讨论应对方式。人们发现 MRI 有多种用途：维持或适应正常；保持希望和对未来的感觉；应对不确定的未来；并寻求他人的支持。临床医生应认识到 MRI 有助于应对的潜力，并在适当的情况下建议家人将扫描 (MRI) 的副本带回家。专业教练或咨询师也可能会发现核磁共振成像有助于提醒家人，孩子现在的处境比以前更稳定或“更好”。