Surgery typically leads to acute postoperative pain, which physicians manage with pharmacologic interventions to alleviate discomfort. However, fear of pain and potential outcomes can intensify a patient’s perception of pain. Effective pain management plays a crucial role in ensuring both short- and long-term positive patient outcomes. In some cases, pharmacologic interventions alone do not address the unique needs of each patient. To meet these needs, one nurse began integrating a distraction technique by guiding patients to visualize their favorite place, finding a compatible soundscape on the internet, and assisting with purposeful breathing. This approach proved effective, prompting the nurse to seek out literature to understand the underlying reasons behind its success.
Through clinical inquiry, the nurse discovered evidence linking preoperative anxiety with increased postoperative pain, as well as supporting the use of guided imagery to reduce preoperative pain. After obtaining approval from the Kaiser Permanente, Research and Development Office (RDO), an evidence-based practice study was conducted in the Ambulatory Surgery Unit in Stockton. The study compared pre-intervention pain levels, length of stay, and opioid consumption in patients who received guided imagery. Additionally, patients who participated in guided imagery were assessed for anxiety both before and after the intervention, and they engaged in a follow-up discussion about their experience.
Key findings from the study included:
- Guided imagery reduced preoperative anxiety by an average of 54%.
- There was a 7-minute reduction in discharge readiness time from the first pain report when guided imagery was used.
- For patients presenting with preoperative pain, guided imagery led to a 13-minute reduction in discharge readiness time.
- Opioid consumption decreased by nearly 4 points on average when guided imagery was used with patients experiencing preoperative pain.
- Patients reported an average satisfaction rating of 80% with their guided imagery experience.
- Guided imagery, as a nurse-driven complementary intervention, has been shown to effectively reduce preoperative anxiety, improve postoperative pain management, and enhance the overall patient experience.