Predicting Preoperative Hemodynamic Changes Using the Visual Analog Scale

Efficacy of a Web App-Based Music Intervention During Cataract Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Hypertensive events during cataract surgery may induce complications. Information and communication technologies applied to health are popular, but clinical evidence of its usefulness is rare and limited to treating anxiety without specific analysis. Recent publications have described the potential effects of personalized music choices as mobile-based intervention on pain but not on anxiety.

Objective

To demonstrate the effects of a web app-based music intervention on the incidence of hypertension in participants during cataract surgery performed under local anesthesia.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized, single masked, controlled clinical trial was composed of 2 arms and took place at a single center at Cochin Hospital in Paris, France. A total of 313 participants were screened between February 2017 and July 2018. Among these, 311 participants undergoing a phacoemulsification procedure for elective surgery for their first eye cataract under local anesthesia were enrolled. Analysis was intention to treat and began in September 2018 and ended November 2018.

Interventions

Participants requiring cataract surgery were assigned randomly to either the experimental arm (web app-based music listening intervention delivered via headphones) or control arm (noise-canceling headphones without music) for 20 minutes before surgery.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The occurrence of at least 1 hypertensive event during surgery.

Results

A total of 310 participants were randomized in the study (155 to each arm) and 309 were analyzed (1 participant in the music arm had already undergone cataract surgery to the other eye). The mean (SD) age of the participants was 68.9 (10.8) years, and there were 176 female individuals (57%). On the primary end point, the incidence of hypertension was significantly lower in the music arm (21 [13.6%]) than in the control arm (82 [52.9%]), with a difference between the 2 arms of 39.3% (95% CI, 21.4%-48.9%; P < .001). Regarding the secondary end points, the mean (SD) visual measure of anxiety was lower in the music arm (1.4 [2.0]) than in the control arm (3.1 [2.4]), with a difference of 1.5 (95% CI, 1.0-2.1; P = .005). The mean (SD) number of sedative drug injections required during surgery was 0.04 (0.24) vs 0.54 (0.74) in the music vs control arms, respectively, with a difference of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.43-0.57; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

For participants similar to those enrolled in this study, the trial suggests that a web app-based personalized music intervention before cataract surgery may be considered to lower anxiety levels and hypertension or reduce the need for sedative medication.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02892825.

Effect Of Peppermint Essence On The Pain And Anxiety Caused By Intravenous Catheterization In Cardiac Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

The effects of the peppermint essence on the pain and anxiety caused by intravenous catheterization have not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to determine effect of inhaling peppermint essence on the pain and anxiety.

METHODS

In this study, 80 cardiac patients were selected through convenient sampling and randomly allocated to aromatherapy and control groups. Data gathering tools were numeric pain rating scale and visual analogue scale for anxiety. The aromatherapy and control groups received inhaled aromatherapy with peppermint essence and distilled water, respectively.

RESULTS

Mean severity of the pain in the aromatherapy and control groups was 2.95±0.98 and 3.42±1.33, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.048). The mean score of anxiety before the intervention in the aromatherapy and control groups was 3.75±1.08 and 4.70±1.43, respectively; these figures after the intervention were 2.32±0.97 and 2.10±1.42, respectively. The two groups were not significantly different before and after the intervention in terms of the level of anxiety. However, the level of anxiety before and after the intervention was significantly different in each group (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Aromatherapy attenuated the pain and anxiety caused by intravenous catheterization. Before catheterization, peppermint essence aromatherapy is recommended.

Dhikr Therapy for Reducing Anxiety in Cancer Patients

Objective:

Anxiety in cancer patients can affect recovery time, medication adherence, and patient quality of life. Some studies show that dhikr therapy can improve relaxation and can reduce anxiety, but research on dhikr therapy in cancer patients is still not widely done. This study aims to determine the effect of dhikr therapy on reducing anxiety in cancer patients.

Methods:

This study used a quantitative method with a quasi-experimental-nonequivalent control group design. The study was conducted in April–May 2018, with respondents 20 people in the intervention group and 20 people in the control group. Dhikr therapy is given once a day in the intervention group with a minimum time of 10 min. Anxiety was measured using the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety. The effect of dhikr therapy was measured using the Mann–Whitney and effect size (ES).

Results:

There were a statistically significant differences in the anxiety level of patients in the intervention group and the control group, with a value of P = 0.001 (P < 0.05) and ES = 0.87 (ES > 0.5) indicating the influence of dhikr therapy in reducing patient anxiety.

Conclusions:

Dhikr therapy has a great effect on reducing anxiety in cancer patients.