title: Strategies for implementing a guided imagery program to enhance patient experience.
abstract: The patient in acute care settings can have severe emotional and physical stresses that are also experienced by family and significant others. The experience in a hospital has often been described as overwhelming; it can evoke feelings of fear, anger, helplessness, and isolation. Guided imagery, one of the most well-studied complementary therapies, is used increasingly to improve patients' experiences and healthcare outcomes. More and more, patients are relying on the use of guided imagery to provide a significant source of strength, support, and courage as they prepare for a procedure or manage the stresses of a hospital stay. This article provides a brief review of the research base for guided imagery and broad indications for its use. It describes key elements of the therapy and outlines steps to implement a program of guided imagery that can be used in variety of settings.
authors.affiliation: Guided Imagery, Inc., Willoughby Hills, Ohio 44094, USA. imageryg@stratos.net
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Tusek
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cwynar
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D016730:Program Development; D012944:Social Support