Imagination helps relieve pain
Guided imagery, along with medication, can reduce post-operative pain and anxiety in children.
Guided imagery, along with medication, can reduce post-operative pain and anxiety in children.
Researchers from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Ohio, USA, found that the need for interventions that reduce children's acute pain on a short-term basis is growing. Shortening hospital stay, and dealing with children's pain at home is difficult.
The study was designed to test the effectiveness of a professionally developed program, comprised of booklets, videotapes and audiotapes. The researching team enrolled 73 children ages 7 to 12 years that were scheduled to undergo tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, or both. The children were randomly assigned to the program or to a control group that received standard care.
The videotape, given to patients during the three weeks before surgery, taught deep breathing and imagery techniques, while the audiotape included deep breathing and muscle relaxation exercises, music, and suggestions for picturing a favourite place.
The patients practiced with the audiotape between two and eight times prior to surgery, and repeated it 1 to 4 hours after surgery and in the home 22 to 24 hours after leaving the hospital. Pain was measured on a 0-100 point scale, and anxiety was assessed with the State Anxiety Inventory for Children. Compared with the standard-care group, children in the program group reported significantly less pain and anxiety after listening to the audiotape immediately after surgery. There was a similar effect at home, although the difference was not significant at a statistical level. The use of painkillers did not differ between groups.
There is a need to get better dosing of pain medications along with using distraction techniques. Doctors are beginning to think differently about how they practice and how they can help patients and families with non-traditional methods of pain management.
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information,
health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like
diabetes,
cancer,
pregnancy,
HIV and AIDS,
weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.
Was this Article Helpful
Yes or
No
