Influence of imagery technique implemented before and after surgery on patients nausea, vomiting and other symptoms: Prospective randomized controlled study

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Imagery causes psychological and physiological changes with different mechanisms. In this study it was performed to investigate the effect of imagery on preoperative anxiety, postoperative nausea-vomiting, pain, anxiety, sleep quality, satisfaction level, amount of used analgesic- antiemetic, hospital stay and validation of Postoperative Nausea-Vomiting Impact Scale (PONVIS) in Turkish. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This study was conducted in two stages as experimental randomize dcontrolled and methodological scale validity. Patients were divided into two groups as intervention group (IG:n=30) and control group (CG:n=30). Guided imagery was applied to IG once in the preoperative period, once in the first day of postoperative period, twice in the second and third days, 6 times in total Tthe CG received only standard nursing care. Preoperative anxiety, postoperative nausea, pain, anxiety, sleep quality and satisfaction level of all patients were evaluated. In addition, the Turkish validitation study of PONVIS was performed with 100 patients with postoperative nausea-vomiting. RESULTS: While preoperative and postoperative anxiety levels, postoperative pain level and the need for analgesic and antiemetic on postoperative first day were low, satisfaction level and sleep quality of the patients were high (p<0.05). However, postoperative nausea level, vomiting (excluding postoperative second hour) and hospital stay were similar (p>0.05). It was concluded that PONVIS is valid and applicable instrument for the Turkish population. CONCLUSİON: It was observed that imagery had positive psychological and physiological effects on patients in perioperative period. Due to its easy implemantation, low cost, positive effects and lack of side effects, it is considered as a method that can be used for fast recovery after surgery. Key words: imagery, nausea-vomiting, pain, anxiety, sleep quality, satisfaction