title: The Feasibility and Effectiveness of Online Guided Imagery Training for Health Professionals.
abstract: This study evaluated the feasibility and impact of brief online guided imagery training (up to 3 hours) for health professionals. Paired t tests were used to measure pre-to-post-training changes in stress (Perceived Stress Scale,), anxiety (Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Anxiety Scale), empathy (Empathic Concern Scale, and Perspective-taking Scale), and self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy in providing Non-Drug Therapies Scale). Online guided imagery training attracted diverse health professionals and trainees (n = 273; 14% trainees; 34% registered nurses, 20% physicians, 14% social workers, 5% registered dititians, and 27% others). Participants reported small but significant pre-to-post-module improvements in stress (17.8 to 13.5), anxiety (T-scores 56.4 to 54.3), empathy (both empathic concern, 29.8 to 30.7, and perspective taking, 28.0 to 29.4), and self-efficacy in providing nondrug therapies for common symptoms (58.5 to 77.0) (P < .001 for all). Future studies will need to examine the clinical impact of online guided imagery training for health professionals.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA kathi.kemper@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Kathi J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kemper
mesh_terms: D004645:Empathy / Q000502:physiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: empathy; guided imagery; hypnosis; online training; stress