title: Anxiety reduction in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization following massage and guided imagery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of massage with or without guided imagery in reducing anxiety prior to cardiac catheterization.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 55 inpatients and outpatients received massage, guided imagery, or massage with guided imagery prior to cardiac catheterization. Self-reported anxiety levels and blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were evaluated in participants and a matched comparison group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Massage with and without guided imagery resulted in significant reductions in self-reported anxiety (p < 0.0001). Patients receiving intervention had lower diastolic BP and HR vs. the comparison group (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Massage with or without guided imagery immediately reduced self-reported anxiety. This pilot study has certain limitations: a non-randomized, convenience sample and a matched control group that was created retrospectively. However, the study indicates a benefit to providing massage or massage with guided imagery prior to anxiety-inducing medical procedures such as cardiac catheterization.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Massage, Integrative Medicine, Beaumont Health System, 3577 W. Thirteen Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA. Electronic address: karen.armstrong@beaumont.edu.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Beaumont Health System, 3601 W. Thirteen Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA. Electronic address: sdixon@beaumont.edu.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Nursing Invasive and Ancillary Procedures, Heart and Vascular Administration, Beaumont Health System, 3601 W. Thirteen Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA. Electronic address: SEMay@beaumont.edu.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: Integrative Medicine, Beaumont Health System, 3577 W. Thirteen Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA. Electronic address: gail.elliottpatricolo@beaumont.edu.
authors.forename: Gail Elliott
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Patricolo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cardiac catheterization; Guided imagery; Hospital-based massage; Integrative medicine; Massage