Experiences of Spanish women undergoing hysterosalpingography as part of the infertility process: a phenomenological study

The effect of virtual reality on women's perceived pain, fear, anxiety, and views about the procedure during hysterosalpingography: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Hysterosalpingography is a stressful procedure that causes pain and anxiety. Therefore, measures must be taken to reduce or eliminate the pain and anxiety associated with it.

OBJECTIVES

This paper investigated the effect of virtual reality (VR) during hysterosalpingography on pain, anxiety, fear, physiological parameters, and satisfaction.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial design was used. Patients were randomized into two groups (VR group = 31, control group = 31). The study was conducted between April 26 and June 30, 2022. Anxiety was evaluated using the State Anxiety Inventory. Pain, fear, and satisfaction were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation were followed up.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in the mean VAS scores during and 15 min after hysterosalpingography between the VR and control groups. There was no significant difference in the mean SAI scores between the groups. The VR group participants were significantly more satisfied with hysterosalpingography than the control group. There was no significant difference in physiological parameters just before, immediately after, and 15 min after hysterosalpingography between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Virtual reality helps patients experience less pain and fear and makes them more satisfied with hysterosalpingography. However, it does not affect their anxiety and vital signs. Patients are highly satisfied with VR technology.

Effect of education and counselling on reducing pain and anxiety in women undergoing hysterosalpingography: A randomised controlled trial

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of education and counselling on anxiety and pain in women undergoing hysterosalpingography (HSG) as part of infertility treatment.

BACKGROUND

The hysterosalpingography has an important diagnostic role in finding the cause of infertility and making a decision on management of treatment. In addition, it is considered a feared procedure in the infertility process and the one about which very little is known. Women often experience anxiety and pain during the HSG procedure.

DESIGN

A randomised controlled trial.

METHODS

The CONSORT guidelines have been used to describe the methods. Women who were diagnosed with infertility between February-October 2016 were included in the study. The participants were randomised and divided into intervention (52) and control (53) groups. The sociodemographic and obstetric data collection form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and a visual analogue scale were used before the procedure. After the questionnaires were applied to the intervention group, individual learning and counselling sessions were given about the hysterosalpingography process. Brochures were also distributed to the patients for their reference after the learning session. The control group received standard care.

RESULTS

When the intervention and control groups were compared, it was found that the education and counselling given before the HSG procedure significantly decreased the level of pain and anxiety felt by women. In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between pain and anxiety after the training in the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that the education and counselling given to women before the HSG procedure are effective interventions for reducing pain and anxiety in women undergoing HSG.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

With the application of HSG education and counselling, and the distribution of brochures to each patient, pain and anxiety can be reduced during the HSG procedure.

Comparison of midazolam and dexmedetomidine for pain relief during and after hysterosalpingography in women with infertility

Patients feel uncomfortable with cervical manipulation, uterine distension and stimulation of peritoneum during hysterosalpingography (HSG) and experience lower abdominal pain during and after the procedure. Pain during the procedure has a negative effect on the adaptation of patients to treatment and physicians are trying to overcome this unpleasant situation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effect of midazolam and dexmedetomidine on reducing pain and spasm of fallopian tubes during and after HSG procedure in women with infertility. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 102 patients were randomly divided into two groups, midazolam and dexmedetomidine. The pain was recorded during injection and immediately after injection and 30 minutes after HSG, and then the complications of injection were recorded. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Based on the results presented herein, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of vasovagal reaction, spasticity of the tube and the side of the spastic tube and uterine cavity anomalies (p <0.05). However, the pain showed a significant difference between the two groups during the injection, immediately or at 30 minutes after the procedure (p = 0.0001). The pain in the midazolam group was less than that of dexmedetomidine. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding spasticity (p <0.05). There is a benefit in terms of pain reduction with the use of dexmedetomidine when comparing with midazolam injection. However, dexmedetomidine does not cause side effects in patients and can be used to reduce pain during injection.

A critical analysis of articles using a Gadamerian based research method

It is over 20 years since Michael Crotty's groundbreaking critique of phenomenological research in nursing. However, rather than entering into the acrimonious discussions that followed, we developed a research method that we believed translated Gadamer's philosophy into the world of empirical research. Fundamental to that work was our differentiation of hermeneutics from phenomenology. The aim of the present paper was to provide a critical analysis of the citations from publication in 2003 until the end of 2017. We identified 402 citations of which 362 were included. One hundred and sixty-three articles mentioned the article in passing, usually in a list of authors who had discussed hermeneutics. Sixteen citations misrepresented the method mainly claiming that we discussed a method for hermeneutic phenomenology (or phenomenological hermeneutics). Of the 117 citations that partially used the method, the main focus was the four steps of data analysis. Sixty studies used our method in totality although they derive from varying philosophical standpoints. Disappointingly, there has been little critique of our Gadamerian research method. For health disciplines to truly make progress in the academic stage, it is vital that we engage in with critique, some of which will come through open and honest reflexive engagement with our topics.

The Human Responses and Nursing Diagnoses of Those Living With Infertility: A Qualitative Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To systematically retrieve, critique, and synthesize patients' human responses about living with infertility and identify possible related nursing diagnoses according to NANDA-I.

METHODS

Systematic review of qualitative nursing studies.

FINDINGS

A total of 39 papers were included, 49 human responses, and 77 potential infertility-related nursing diagnoses were identified across three themes. Main foci matching nursing diagnosis were related to spiritual well-being, spiritual distress, and resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients respond to infertility in a variety of ways and this raises the need for a more effective, holistic, and accurate nursing diagnosis.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The accuracy of the nursing diagnosis is critical in raising the quality of the nursing process and in meeting infertile patients' circumstances and care expectations.