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Ko SY, Wong EML, Ngan TL, Leung HK, Kwok KTY, Tam HF, Chan CC. Effects of virtual reality on anxiety and pain in adult patients undergoing wound-closure procedures: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076241250157. [PMID: 38846363 PMCID: PMC11155349 DOI: 10.1177/20552076241250157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In emergency departments, suturing is a typical procedure for closing lacerated wounds but is invasive and often causes anxiety and pain. Virtual reality (VR) intervention has been reported as a relaxing measure. Objective The study aims to examine the effects of VR intervention on anxiety, pain, physiological parameters, local anesthesia requirements and satisfaction in Chinese adult patients undergoing wound closure in emergency departments in Hong Kong. Methods Adult patients who had lacerated wounds and were undergoing wound closure by suturing can communicate in Chinese and were hemodynamically stable were invited for this trial. Eighty patients were randomly assigned to the VR group, which received VR intervention and standard care, or to the control group, which received standard care only. The primary outcome was anxiety, and the secondary outcomes included pain, blood pressure, pulse rate, satisfactory with pain management, service satisfactory, and extra local analgesia requirement. Outcomes were conducted at baseline, during the procedure and 5 min after the procedure. Results The VR group had a significantly greater reduction in anxiety (p < 0.001), pain (p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), pulse rate (p = 0.003) and requested less amount of additional local anesthesia (p = 0.025). The satisfactory level with pain management (p = 0.019) and service (p = 0.002) were significantly higher in participants who received VR intervention. In addition, most participants preferred to have VR in the future, and no major adverse events associated with the use of VR were reported. Conclusion This pilot study provides insight into the use of VR and the direction of future studies. It may effectively improve psychological and physiological outcomes in adult patients during wound-closure procedures in emergency departments.
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Affiliation(s)
- SY Ko
- Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China
| | - Eliza ML Wong
- School of Nursing, Tung Wah College, Hong Kong, China
| | - TL Ngan
- Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China
| | - HK Leung
- Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kennis TY Kwok
- Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China
| | - HF Tam
- Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China
| | - CC Chan
- Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China
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Bosso L, Espejo T, Taffé P, Caillet-Bois D, Christen T, Berna C, Hugli O. Analgesic and Anxiolytic Effects of Virtual Reality During Minor Procedures in an Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Study. Ann Emerg Med 2023; 81:84-94. [PMID: 35641354 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2022.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the analgesic and anxiolytic efficacy of distraction, a nonpharmacologic intervention provided by 3-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) compared with that provided by 2-dimensional (2D) VR during minor emergency department (ED) procedures. METHODS This randomized controlled study conducted in the ED of a teaching hospital included patients aged more than or equal to 18 years undergoing minor procedures. The patients watched the same computer-generated VR world either in 3D in a head-mounted display (intervention) or in 2D on a laptop screen (control). Our main outcomes were pain and anxiety during the procedure, assessed on a 100-mm visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes included the impression of telepresence in the computer-generated world assessed using the Igroup Presence Questionnaire, and the prevalence and intensity of cybersickness measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale. RESULTS The final analysis included 117 patients. The differences in median procedural pain and anxiety levels between the 2D and 3D VR groups were not significant: -3 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] -14 to 8) and -4 mm (95% CI -15 to 3), respectively; the difference in telepresence was 2.0 point (95% CI 0 to 2.0), and the proportion difference of cybersickness was -4% (95% CI -22 to 14), with an intensity difference of -5 mm (95% CI -9 to 3). CONCLUSION During minor procedures in adult patients in the ED, distraction by viewing a 3D virtual world in a head-mounted VR display did not result in lower average levels of procedural pain and anxiety than that by 2D viewing on a screen despite a higher sense of telepresence. There were no significant differences in the prevalence and intensity of cybersickness between the 2 groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Bosso
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
| | - Tanguy Espejo
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Taffé
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), DFRI/Division of Biostatistics, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
| | - David Caillet-Bois
- Emergency Department, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Christen
- Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
| | - Chantal Berna
- Centre for Integrative and Complementary Medicine and Pain Centers, Lausanne University Hospital & Lausanne University, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Hugli
- Emergency Department, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland.
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Mccahill R, Keogh S, Hughes JA. Adult pain and anticipatory anxiety assessment in the emergency department: An integrative literature review. J Clin Nurs 2022. [PMID: 36221311 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients presenting to the emergency departments in pain often experience co-occurring symptoms. Anticipatory anxiety in the emergency department may be currently under-recognised. Clinical tools to facilitate the assessment of co-occurring symptoms aligns with providing more patient centred care and improved outcomes and experience. AIMS This integrative review aimed to identify and examine the psychometric properties of tools currently used for pain and anticipatory anxiety assessment in adult patients presenting to the emergency department. This study also aimed to identify the current clinical practice used to assess adult pain and anticipatory anxiety. METHODS Whittemore and Knafl's methodology guided the review process, and it is reported according to relevant items from PRISMA checklist. Studies were included if they focused on tools for pain or anxiety assessment of adults in emergency departments in English language publications since 2010. Quality of studies was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The results were summarised through narrative synthesis. RESULTS A total of 15 studies were identified for narrative synthesis. Six tools for pain, and four tools for anticipative anxiety were found. All currently used clinical tools assess symptoms in isolation. There was limited discussion of the clinical context of identified tools within the included studies. CONCLUSION Pain and anxiety assessment are currently performed in symptom isolation with a variety of tools with varying degrees of reliability. There exists a lack of clinical tools able to assess co-occurring symptoms of pain and anticipatory anxiety in the clinical setting of the emergency department. No studies discussed clinical tool use in current practice. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The reconstruction of available pain and anxiety assessment tools into one validated and holistic tool for assessment in the ED clinical setting, would provide a contextually appropriate guide to clinical assessment and treatment. Acknowledging and measuring these symptoms may facilitate future rigorous testing of experimental studies of novel methods to reduce pain and anxiety in the ED. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION Patient or public contribution does not apply to this Integrative Review. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Mccahill
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Nursing, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.,Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.,Mackay Hospital and Health Service (MHHS), Queensland Health, Mackay, Queensland, Australia
| | - Samantha Keogh
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Nursing, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.,Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.,Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research Group (AVATAR), Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James A Hughes
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Nursing, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.,Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.,Emergency and Trauma Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Australia
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Oliveira J. e Silva L, Prakken SD, Meltzer AC, Broder JS, Gerberi DJ, Upadhye S, Carpenter CR, Bellolio F. Depression and anxiety screening in emergency department patients with recurrent abdominal pain: An evidence synthesis for a clinical practice guideline. Acad Emerg Med 2022; 29:615-629. [PMID: 34665903 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrent abdominal pain in the emergency department (ED) might represent an opportunity for screening of depression and/or anxiety. METHODS We systematically searched five databases for studies evaluating the effect of screening for depression and/or anxiety in ED patients with recurrent and undifferentiated abdominal pain. Given paucity of direct evidence, we also searched for indirect evidence including studies that assessed prevalence of depression and/or anxiety in EDs (not necessarily recurrent abdominal pain), diagnostic accuracy of screening tools, effectiveness of screening in other settings, and outcomes such as repeat ED visits of patients with abdominal pain who were screened in the ED. Two methodologists evaluated certainty in the evidence using the GRADE approach. RESULTS A total of 4,337 citations were reviewed, and zero studies were found on the effect of screening in patients with recurrent and undifferentiated abdominal pain in the ED. A total of 35 studies were included as relevant indirect evidence. In studies of ED patients with abdominal pain, depression ranged from 10% to 29%, while anxiety ranged from 18% to 50%. False positives appear to be an issue given relatively low specificity of screening tools. One randomized trial including ED patients with vague symptoms evaluated the effect of depression screening on a composite outcome of depression recognition, psychiatric consultation, or referral by the emergency physician (risk ratio = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.49 to 4.53, very low certainty). One study reported that patients with undifferentiated abdominal pain who screened positive for depression have had increased ED recidivism (odds ratio = 3.17, 95% CI = 1.14 to 8.85, very low certainty). CONCLUSIONS We were unable to identify any evidence that confirms that depression or anxiety screening in ED patients with recurrent and undifferentiated abdominal pain improves outcomes or changes management downstream.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven D. Prakken
- Department of Psychiatry Duke University Health System Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Andrew C. Meltzer
- Department of Emergency Medicine The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Washington District of Columbia USA
| | - Joshua S. Broder
- Department of Surgery Division of Emergency Medicine Duke University School of Medicine Durham North Carolina USA
| | | | - Suneel Upadhye
- Department of Emergency Medicine McMaster University Hamilton Ontario Canada
| | - Christopher R. Carpenter
- Department of Emergency Medicine Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Emergency Care Research Core St. Louis Missouri USA
| | - Fernanda Bellolio
- Department of Emergency Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
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The Use of a Fixed 50:50 Mixture of Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen to Reduce Lumbar Puncture-Induced Pain in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11061489. [PMID: 35329815 PMCID: PMC8953352 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11061489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lumbar puncture (LP) is stressful and often painful. We evaluated the efficacy of a fixed 50% nitrous oxide−oxygen mixture (50%N2O-O2) versus placebo to reduce immediate procedural pain and anxiety during LP performed in an emergency setting. We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving adults who needed a cerebrospinal fluid analysis in an emergency department. Patients were randomly assigned to inhale either 50%N2O-O2 or medical air. The primary endpoint, assessed using a numerical scale, was the maximum pain felt by the patient during the procedure and the maximum anxiety and satisfaction as secondary outcomes. Eighty-eight patients were randomized and analyzed (ITT). The maximal pain was 5.0 ± 2.9 for patients receiving air and 4.2 ± 3.0 for patients receiving 50%N2O-O2 (effect-size = −0.27 [−0.69; 0.14], p = 0.20). LP-induced anxiety was 4.7 ± 2.8 vs. 3.7 ± 3.7 (p = 0.13), and the proportion of patients with significant anxiety (score ≥ 4/10) was 72.7% vs. 50.0% (p = 0.03). Overall satisfaction was higher among patients receiving 50%N2O-O2 (7.4 ± 2.4 vs. 8.9 ± 1.6, p < 0.001). No serious adverse events were attributable to 50%N2O-O2 inhalation. Although inhalation of 50%N2O-O2 failed to reduce LP-induced pain in an emergency setting, it tended to reduce anxiety and significantly increased patient satisfaction.
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Houze-Cerfon CH, Balen F, Houze-Cerfon V, Motuel J, Battefort F, Bounes V. Hydroxyzine for lowering patient's anxiety during prehospital morphine analgesia: A prospective randomized double blind study. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 50:753-757. [PMID: 34879499 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.09.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine drug used for symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension. We hypothesized that managing the anxiety of patients with severe pain by adding hydroxyzine to a conventional intravenous morphine titration would relieve their pain more effectively. METHODS This was a randomized, double-blind, controlled group study of prehospital patients with acute pain scored greater than or equal to 6 on a 0-10 verbal numeric rating scale (NRS). Patients'anxiety was measured with the self-reported Face Anxiety Scale (FAS) ranking from 0 to 4. The percentage of patients with pain relief (NRS score ≤ 3) 15 min after the first injection was the primary outcome. RESULTS One hundred forty patients were enrolled. Fifty-one percent (95% CI 39% to 63%) of hydroxyzine patients versus 52% (95% CI 40% to 64%) of placebo patients reported a pain numeric rating scale score of 3 or lower at 15 min. Ninety-one percent (95% CI 83% to 98%) of patients receiving hydroxyzine reported no more severe anxiety versus 78% (95% CI 68% to 88%) of patients with placebo (p > 0.05). Adverse events were minor, with no difference between groups (6% in hydroxyzine patients and 14% in placebo patients). CONCLUSION Addition of hydroxyzine to morphine in the prehospital setting did not reduce pain or anxiety in patients with acute severe pain and therefore is not indicated based on our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles-Henri Houze-Cerfon
- Emergency Department, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Toulouse, Toulouse 31059 Cedex 9, France; UMR EFTS Université de Toulouse 2 Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France
| | - Frédéric Balen
- Emergency Department, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Toulouse, Toulouse 31059 Cedex 9, France
| | - Vanessa Houze-Cerfon
- Emergency Department, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Toulouse, Toulouse 31059 Cedex 9, France; SAMU 31, Pôle Médecine d'Urgence, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Toulouse, Toulouse 31059 Cedex 9, France.
| | - Julie Motuel
- Anesthesiology Department, Centre Hospitalier Yves Le Foll, Saint Brieuc 22000, United States of America
| | - Florent Battefort
- SAMU 31, Pôle Médecine d'Urgence, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Toulouse, Toulouse 31059 Cedex 9, France
| | - Vincent Bounes
- SAMU 31, Pôle Médecine d'Urgence, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Toulouse, Toulouse 31059 Cedex 9, France
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7
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Warshawski S, Amit Aharon A, Itzhaki M. The public's mixed emotional responses to violence directed at nurses: A mixed methods study. J Clin Nurs 2021; 31:2208-2218. [PMID: 34528305 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To understand whether exposure to an incident of violence directed at nurses, evoke among the public a sense of identification with the victim or with the perpetrator. BACKGROUND Worldwide, evidence regarding workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare systems, explored the characteristics of the perpetrator, the healthcare settings and staff. Nevertheless, no studies examine the emotions of the public towards WPV in the healthcare systems. DESIGN A convergent mixed method parallel design. METHODS A structured questionnaire was distributed among 925 adults. Two scenarios were presented, with verbal and physical violence towards nurses. The participants rated how intensely they felt positive and negative emotions regarding the nurse and the perpetrator (quantitative stage). Sixty participants were also interviewed concerning their emotions regarding violence committed towards nurses (qualitative stage). Paired samples t-test were used to compare the emotions that were aroused regarding the perpetrator and the nurse. The effect size and Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons were calculated. Constant comparative analysis method was used to analyzed the qualitative data. The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies and the COREQ guidelines for qualitative studies were used for reporting. RESULTS Positive emotions were significantly higher towards the nurse than the perpetrator. Nevertheless, there were both positive and negative emotions towards the perpetrator and the nurse. The qualitative findings yielded two themes: (1) Mixed emotions towards the perpetrator, and (2) Mixed emotions towards the nurse. CONCLUSIONS The public may emotionally identify with both the nurse and the perpetrator while positive and negative emotions are intertwined. Likewise, positive emotions are more intensely felt for the victims in both verbally and physically violent scenarios. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE These complemented findings highlight the need for campaigns promoting positive emotions toward healthcare professionals in an attempt to reduce and eliminate WPV in healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigalit Warshawski
- Nursing Department, School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Anat Amit Aharon
- Nursing Department, School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michal Itzhaki
- Nursing Department, School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Heitz C, Morgenstern J, Bond C, Milne WK. Hot Off the Press: SGEM #285-Adult Coloring for Anxiety in the Emergency Department. Acad Emerg Med 2020; 27:1353-1355. [PMID: 32232905 DOI: 10.1111/acem.13973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Corey Heitz
- From the, Lewis Gale Medical Center, Salem, VA
| | | | | | - William K Milne
- and the, University of Western Ontario, Goderich, Ontario, Canada
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Wong A, Potter J, Brown NJ, Chu K, Hughes JA. Patient-Reported outcomes of pain care research in the adult emergency department: A scoping review. Australas Emerg Care 2020; 24:127-134. [PMID: 33187935 DOI: 10.1016/j.auec.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite more than 30 years of research, pain in the emergency department (ED) setting is frequently undertreated. EDs prioritise process measures that often have tenuous links to patient-reported outcomes. However, process measures, such as time to the administration of first analgesic medication, are neither direct objective measures of analgesia nor appropriate surrogate markers of pain relief. Since pain is a subjective symptom that lacks an objective measure, pain research in any clinical environment, including EDs, should rely upon patient-reported outcomes. This scoping review examined patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of pain care in the adult emergency department at the micro, meso and macro-level over the last ten years. We reviewed pain care research conducted on adults in EDs over the last ten years and identified 57 articles using 14 patient-reported outcomes of pain care falling into five broad areas, most without validation or adaption to the ED setting. Despite efforts made to incorporate PROs and PROMs into acute pain care research in the ED over the last ten years, there is still no gold-standard PROM in widespread use. We recommend the adaptation of existing tools with rigorous validation in ED populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alixandra Wong
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Joseph Potter
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia; Logan Hospital, Meadowbrook, Australia
| | - Nathan J Brown
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia; Emergency and Trauma Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Australia
| | - Kevin Chu
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia; Emergency and Trauma Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Australia
| | - James A Hughes
- Emergency and Trauma Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Australia; School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia.
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10
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Rajendran N, Mitra TP, Shahrestani S, Coggins A. Randomized Controlled Trial of Adult Therapeutic Coloring for the Management of Significant Anxiety in the Emergency Department. Acad Emerg Med 2020; 27:92-99. [PMID: 31957143 DOI: 10.1111/acem.13838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety and acute distress are significant concerns in the emergency department (ED). Adult coloring books are often utilized as an effective means of relaxation in waiting rooms and newsstands, but there are no reported randomized trials examining their effectiveness as a treatment for anxiety. METHODS We set out to examine the effectiveness of adult coloring books using a randomized placebo-controlled trial at a university-affiliated tertiary ED. Anxiety was measured using a validated self-reporting score, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A), with a range of 0 to 21. Patients with HADS-A ≥ 7 were randomly assigned to either an adult coloring pack (n = 26) or placebo pack (n = 27). The primary outcome measure was the within-patient change in HADS-A scores following 2 hours of exposure. RESULTS A convenience sample of 117 patients were screened, and 53 patients were randomized. Characteristics of allocated groups were similar in terms of sex, diagnosis, and ethnicity. A higher proportion of intervention subjects spent ≥1 hour engaged with their activity (46.2% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.01). For the primary outcome measure, the mean within-patient decrease in HADS-A score at 2 hours for intervention subjects was 3.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.4 to 5.1, p < 0.001) versus a decrease of 0.3 (95% CI = -0.6 to 1.2, p = 0.51) in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Among ED patients, exposure to adult coloring books resulted in lower self-reported levels of anxiety at 2 hours compared to placebo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andrew Coggins
- Sydney Medical School University of Sydney SydneyAustralia
- Emergency Department Westmead Hospital Sydney Australia
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