Efficacy of Guided Imagery for Postoperative Symptoms, Sleep Quality, Anxiety, and Satisfaction Regarding Nursing Care: A Randomized Controlled Study

Guided Imagery Effects on Pain, Anxiety, and Sleep for Lumbar Discectomy Patients

PURPOSE

Pain, sleep problems, and anxiety due to all these are common problems in patients who have had herniated disk surgery. This study aims to analyze the effect of the guided imagery technique on the patients' pain, anxiety, and sleep levels before and after a lumbar disk herniation (LDH) operation.

DESIGN

This study was conducted as a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

METHODS

The research was conducted with 60 patients who underwent LDH surgery and met the inclusion criteria. Patients were divided into experimental and control groups according to a computer-generated randomization list. The treatment group (n = 31) applied guided imagery techniques twice, once in the preoperative and postoperative periods. The control group (n = 29) was provided with routine care. "Introductory Information Form," "Surgery-Specific Anxiety Scale," "Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire," and "Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)" were used. The data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, paired sample t test, independent sample t test, Pearson chi-square exact test, and repeated measures two-way analysis of variance. In all results, P < .05 was considered statistically significant.

FINDINGS

The preoperative anxiety level of the treatment group was lower compared to the anxiety level of the control group (P < .05). The sleep score of the treatment group in the preoperative period was higher than the sleep score of the control group (P < .05). The sleep score of the treatment group in the postoperative period was found to be higher than the sleep score of the control group (P < .05). The pain average of the treatment group in the postoperative period was lower than the pain average of the control group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results revealed that guided imagery applied in the preoperative and postoperative periods effectively decreased pain and anxiety levels and increased the sleep quality of patients with LDH.

Effect of Guided Imagery on Patient Comfort, Vital Signs, Pain, Anxiety, and Satisfaction in Cancer Patients Undergoing Port Catheterization With Local Anesthesia: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

Port catheter placement is usually an operation performed under local anesthesia. Being conscious during the interventions performed with local anesthesia can lead to anxiety and stress.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of guided imagery performed before and during the procedure on vital signs and comfort, pain, anxiety, and satisfaction levels in patients with cancer undergoing port catheterization with local anesthesia.

METHODS

A total of 80 patients were included in the study. Patients in the intervention group received standard treatment and nursing care, as well as a guided imagery intervention once before and once during the procedure. Patients in the control group received only standard treatment and nursing care.

RESULTS

Patients in the guided imagery group reported lower pain and anxiety scores, higher patient satisfaction, and increased comfort compared with patients in the control group. Patients in the guided imagery group showed significantly lower respiratory rate and heart rate than the control group by the end of the procedure. There was no significant difference in blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

Practicing guided imagery before and during a procedure performed under local anesthesia reduced cancer patients' pain, increased patient satisfaction and comfort, and had a positive effect on their respiratory and heart rates.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

We recommend guided imagery as a practical, low-cost complementary therapy for patients receiving local anesthesia.

The effect of guided imagery applied on geriatric orthopaedic patients on preoperative anxiety and comfort

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to examine the effect of guided imagery applied to geriatric orthopaedic patients on preoperative anxiety and comfort.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial. The population of the study consisted of geriatric patients treated in the orthopaedics and traumatology clinic of a university hospital. The sample consisted of 80 patients, including the experimental group (n = 40) and the control group (n = 40). Personal Descriptive Form, The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and General Comfort Scale were used as data collection tools.

RESULTS

After the guided imagery application, it was determined that the anxiety of the experimental group decreased statistically significantly, and their comfort improved (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

After the imagery, it was determined that the patients in the experimental group had a decrease in their anxiety level and an improvement in their comfort. Since it is a low-cost and easily accessible method, applying imagery in the preoperative period is recommended.

The effect of guided imagery on postoperative pain and comfort of geriatric orthopaedic patients: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of guided imagery on postoperative pain and comfort in geriatric orthopedics patients.

METHODS

This study was carried out with a randomized-controlled true experimental design. The population of the study included geriatric patients receiving treatment at the orthopedics and traumatology inpatient clinic of a university hospital. Based on random selection, the sample consisted of total of 102 patients, including 40 patients in the experimental group and 40 in the control group. The data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Visual Analog Scale, and the General Comfort Questionnaire.

RESULTS

After the guided imagery intervention, the pain levels of the experimental group significantly decreased compared to their baseline pain levels (t = 4.002, P = 0.00). Their perceived comfort was also significantly improved (t = -5.428, P = 0.00). Although the perceived comfort of the control group decreased, this decrease was not statistically significant (t = 0.698, P = 0.489).

CONCLUSION

It is recommended that guided imagery, which is an inexpensive and accessible method, be integrated into the nursing care process to reduce the pain and increase the comfort of geriatric orthopedics patients.

The Effect of Guided Imagery on Postoperative Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Surgical Operations: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Guided imagery distracts patients from disturbing feelings and thoughts, positively affects emotional well-being, and reduces pain by producing pleasing mental images. This study aimed to determine the effects of guided imagery on postoperative pain management in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery. This randomized controlled study was conducted between April 2018 and May 2019. This study included 60 patients who underwent lower extremity surgery. After using guided imagery, the posttest mean Visual Analog Scale score of patients in the intervention group was found to be 2.56 (1.00 ± 6.00), whereas the posttest mean score of patients in the control group was 4.10 (3.00 ± 6.00), and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p <.001). Guided imagery reduces short-term postoperative pain after lower extremity surgery.

Effect of Guided Imagery Meditation During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Reducing Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Up to 90% of patients still experience pain after abdominal surgery, which also affects their physical recovery and psychological anxiety.

AIM

To evaluate the effects of guided imagery meditation on ameliorating anxiety, improving the quality of sleep, and relieving postoperative pain in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery.

METHOD

In the general surgical ward of a teaching hospital, patients were randomly assigned to usual care (n = 34) and guided imagery meditation intervention (n = 34) groups, using the method. The measuring outcomes included their anxiety score, quality of sleep, and pain control.

RESULTS

In terms of the anxiety difference, the experimental group scored 0.42 (standard deviation [SD] = 0.97), while the control group scored 4.79 (SD = 7.56), which indicates a statistically significant difference (F = 8.04, p = .01, partial eta² = 0.11). In terms of quality of sleep, the mean score of the experimental group was 2.67 (SD = 1.96), while the control group scored 7.55 (SD = 3.81), which indicates a significant difference (F = 39.99, p = .001, partial eta² = 0.39). The mean of the degree of postoperative pain was 2.11 points (SD = 1.39), and the score of the control group was 4.00 points (SD = 1.62), which indicates a significant difference (p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Guided imagery meditation is a simple, non-invasive, non-pharmacologic intervention measure. It can reduce anxiety and postoperative pain, and improve the quality of sleep. Thus, it should be promoted in clinical practice.

Development and implementation of anxiety management program for women under gynecological surgery with spinal anesthesia: Protocol of action research study

BACKGROUND

Anxiety is the most common health problem and the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Patients undergoing surgery often experience anxiety. It is necessary to use appropriate interventions to achieve the best results. The aim of this study is to develop, implement, and evaluate of anxiety management program for gynecological surgery patients under spinal anesthesia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This participatory action research will be conducted through four phases; problem identification, planning, action, and evaluation phases in the Gonbad-e-Kavous Shahada, hospital in northeastern of Iran. These phases will be guided based on the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework. Participants will be included using purposive sampling method. We will use both of qualitative (semi-structured interview, observation) and quantitative (questionnaire) approaches for data collection through the study.

CONCLUSION

For anxiety management of patients, context-based interventions should be performed. Combination of multidimension approach based on health-care providers, patients, and environment will have an effect to solve the problem in the clinical setting.

The Impact of Guided Imagery on Pain and Anxiety in Hospitalized Adults

BACKGROUND

The use and impact of guided imagery in the acute care setting is limited.

AIMS

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the feasibility of a guided imagery intervention to change pain scores, anxiety scores, and opioid analgesia usage among hospitalized adults in an acute care setting.

DESIGN

Quality improvement project using three measurements (baseline, 24 hours, and 48 hours).

SETTINGS

Acute care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS

Adult inpatients referred to an APRN-led pain management service.

METHODS

The intervention was the use of a 30-minute guided imagery recording delivered via MP3 player which patients used twice daily.

RESULTS

Limited changes were seen in pain scores, with no statistically significant results (p = .449). Statistically significant reductions were found in both anxiety scores (p < .001) and opioid analgesia usage (p = .043).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this quality improvement project support the impact of guided imagery on anxiety and opioid analgesia use. Changes in pain scores were not demonstrated in this project. Additional research with a rigorous design is needed to determine cause and effect conclusions.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The use of guided imagery as an adjunctive intervention for pain control may engage and empower the patient in self-care activities, which may have an impact on how care is perceived. Guided imagery is a low-cost, easily implemented approach that can be incorporated into patient care to reduce anxiety and, potentially, opioid analgesia use.