Guided imagery in cardiac surgery.
Clinical research has demonstrated that guided imagery, a simple form of relaxation, can reduce preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain among patients undergoing surgical procedures. In 1998, the cardiac surgery team implemented a guided imagery program to compare cardiac surgical outcomes between two groups of patients: with and without guided imagery. Data from the hospital financial cost/accounting database and patient satisfaction data were collected and matched to the two groups of patients. A questionnaire was developed to assess the benefits of the guided imagery program to those who elected to participate in it. Patients who completed the guided imagery program had a shorter average length of stay, a decrease in average direct pharmacy costs, and a decrease in average direct pain medication costs while maintaining high overall patient satisfaction with the care and treatment provided. Guided imagery is now considered a complementary means to reduce anxiety, pain, and length of stay among our cardiac surgery patients.
Inova Heart Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA. linda.halpin@inova.com
Linda S
LS
Halpin
Alan M
AM
Speir
Pam
P
CapoBianco
Scott D
SD
Barnett
D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D003363:Cost Control; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014768:Virginia