Effect of Guided Imagery Meditation During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Reducing Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundUp to 90% of patients still experience pain after abdominal surgery, which also affects their physical recovery and psychological anxiety.AimTo evaluate the effects of guided imagery meditation on ameliorating anxiety, improving the quality of sleep, and relieving postoperative pain in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery.MethodIn the general surgical ward of a teaching hospital, patients were randomly assigned to usual care (n = 34) and guided imagery meditation intervention (n = 34) groups, using the method. The measuring outcomes included their anxiety score, quality of sleep, and pain control.ResultsIn terms of the anxiety difference, the experimental group scored 0.42 (standard deviation [SD] = 0.97), while the control group scored 4.79 (SD = 7.56), which indicates a statistically significant difference (F = 8.04, p = .01, partial eta² = 0.11). In terms of quality of sleep, the mean score of the experimental group was 2.67 (SD = 1.96), while the control group scored 7.55 (SD = 3.81), which indicates a significant difference (F = 39.99, p = .001, partial eta² = 0.39). The mean of the degree of postoperative pain was 2.11 points (SD = 1.39), and the score of the control group was 4.00 points (SD = 1.62), which indicates a significant difference (p = .001).ConclusionsGuided imagery meditation is a simple, non-invasive, non-pharmacologic intervention measure. It can reduce anxiety and postoperative pain, and improve the quality of sleep. Thus, it should be promoted in clinical practice.