Assessment of Guided Imagery Effect on Reducing Anxiety and Pain Associated withWound Dressing Changes in Burn Patients

Background: Burn damages are important causes of mortality and morbidity. They are also associated with many physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences. Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the effect of guided imagery on reducing anxiety and pain due to dressing change in burn patients. Methods: The statistical population of this clinical trial included all burn patients (grade 1 and 2 but not self-immolation) who admitted to the burn department of Imam Reza hospital in Mashhad (the second largest city in Iran) between September 2012 and March 2013. 40 patients selected non-randomly through convenience sampling method were divided randomly into two equal groups of intervention and control. The intervention group received guided imagery treatment (15 minutes per day for 8 days) in addition to the routine care, while the control group only received the routine care. Data were gathered through a demographic form, Beck anxiety inventory, and McGill pain inventory. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics such as frequency, mean, and standard deviation and inferential statistics such as independent t-test in SPSS software. Results: The comparison of anxiety and pain between the two groups in pre-test showed no significant differences (P = 0.310 and P = 0.120, respectively). However, there were significant differences in the scores of anxiety and pain between the groups in post-test (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: It seems that guided imagery can reduce the level of anxiety and pain due to dressing change in burn patients.