title: Impact of relaxation training on patient-perceived measures of anxiety, pain, and outcomes after interventional electrophysiology procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electrophysiology procedures vary in invasiveness, duration, and anesthesia utilized. While complications are low and efficacy high, cases are elective and patient experiences related to anxiety, pain, and perceived outcomes are not well studied. We sought to determine if a 30-minute audio compact disc (CD) that teaches relaxation techniques and wellness perception prior to an elective procedure impacts validated measures of anxiety, pain, and procedural outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients were randomly assigned to a control group (CG) (N(CG) = 31) or interventional group (IG) (N(IG) = 30). Both groups answered a baseline Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) survey consisting only of anxiety assessment questions. The IG listened to the CD the night prior to their procedure. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored on admission and prior to the procedure. Postprocedure, both groups completed two HADS-A surveys as well as two Patient Experience Surveys (PES). There was no statistical difference in the demographics and the rate of procedural complications between the groups. The statistical significance of our data was determined using a Student's t-test and χ(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, both groups had equal amounts of anxiety prior to their procedures (P = 0.2). The patients in the IG had lower systolic blood pressures during admission and prior the administration of analgesics in comparison to the CG. Postprocedure, results from administering the HADS-A demonstrated that the IG had 33% lower anxiety (P = 0.02) than CG patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of basic relaxation teaching techniques prior to planned electrophysiology procedures lowers systolic blood pressure and postprocedural anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Antreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hindoyan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cesario
authors.forename: Jerold S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shinbane
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Saxon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult