title: Effects of sensory and procedural information on coping with stressful medical procedures and pain: a meta-analysis.
abstract: A meta-analysis of studies on preparation for medical procedures and pain evaluated the relative effects of sensory; procedural, and combined sensory-procedural preoperational information on coping outcomes. Results indicated that, in contrast to sensory information, procedural information provided no significant benefits over control group instruction. Combined sensory-procedural preparation, however, yielded the strongest and most consistent benefits in terms of reducing negative affect, pain reports, and other-rated distress. The meta-analytic results are consistent with the dual process preparation hypothesis, which proposes that the information combination is optimal because procedural details provide a map of specific events while sensory information facilitates their interpretation as nonthreatening. It is concluded that a combined preparation is the preferred clinical option.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suls
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012677:Sensation; D012803:Sick Role