Beneficial Effects of Guided Imagery or Clinical Massage on the Status of Patients in a Progressive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Patients in the progressive care unit typically experience high levels of pain and anxiety and exhibit difficulty sleeping.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether either clinical massage or guided imagery could reduce pain and anxiety and improve sleep.

METHODS: This study included 288 inpatients on 2 floors of a progressive care unit. On 1 floor, each patient was offered daily a 15-minute complimentary clinical massage, whereas the patients on the other floor were provided access to a 30-minute guided-imagery recording. Patients were asked to rate their pain and anxiety levels immediately before and after the massage intervention or were asked whether the guided-imagery intervention was helpful for pain, anxiety, or insomnia.

RESULTS: The massage intervention showed an immediate and significant reduction in self-reported pain and anxiety (P < .001); likewise, a significant number of patients self-reported that guided imagery helped alleviate pain, anxiety, and insomnia (P < .001).

CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that clinical massage and guided imagery can benefit patients in the progressive care unit.