The Effect of Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Sedation in Patients Undergoing Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation

Abstract

Mental imagery and relaxation are noninvasive methods and can easily be used by the patient. Accordingly, this study aimed to detect the effect of guided mental imagery (GI) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on sedation in patients undergoing noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV). This clinical trial study was carried out in the Shahid Modarres Hospital in 2022 and encompassed 80 patients with COVID-19 undergoing NIV, who were assigned to two intervention and control groups. The sedation survey scale was used to collect the required data. Before the intervention, the two groups completed the questionnaires, and then the relaxation program was presented during four sessions for the intervention group. This study included 80 patients with a mean age (± SD) of 59.59 ± 9.27 years. The Quade nonparametric ANCOVA revealed the significant impact of intervention on the post values of Total score (p-value < 0.001), Tolerance (p-value < 0.001), Calmness (p-value < 0.001), Ventilator synchrony (p-value < 0.001), face relaxation (p-value < 0.001), Consciousness (p-value = 0.009) and Awakeness (p-value = 0.020). The study findings demonstrated the effectiveness of relaxation program in promoting sedation in patients undergoing NIV. Accordingly, intensive care unit (ICU) nurses at our institution are encouraged to use PMR and GI to sedation of patients under NIV.

Keywords:

• Guided imagery
• progressive muscle relaxation
• noninvasive positive pressure ventilation
• sedation

Acknowledgments

The researchers would like to express their gratitude to the authorities of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, the authorities of the Shahid Modarres Hospital, and the research participants.

Authors contribution

ASA and SKH conceived and designed the study, conducted research, provided research materials, and collected and organized data. MAL analyzed and interpreted data. ASA and SKH wrote initial and final draft of article. MZ critically reviewed and approved the final draft. All authors are responsible for the content and similarity index of the manuscript.

Ethical approval

This article was extracted from the research project approved by the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IRCT code: IRCT20170617034592N2) (Ethics code: IR.SBMU.RETECH.REC.1400.1026).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.