Effect of Guided Imagery Meditation During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Reducing Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Yi-Jun Lu, Mei-Chen Lee, Chin-Yau Chen, Shu-Yuan Liang, Ya-Ping Li, Hui-Mei Chen
Pain Management Nursing July 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2022.07.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 68 |
| Population | Patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery in a general surgical ward of a teaching hospital |
| Intervention | Guided imagery meditation |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | Guided imagery meditation reduced anxiety, improved sleep quality, and lowered postoperative pain compared with usual care in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The authors argue that this simple, non-invasive, non-pharmacologic intervention should be promoted in clinical practice. |
Abstract
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.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.