Psychological approaches during dressing changes of burned patients: a prospective randomised study comparing hypnosis against stress reducing strategy

A prospective study was designed to compare two psychological support interventions in controlling peri-dressing change pain and anxiety in severely burned patients. Thirty patients with a total burned surface area of 10–25%, requiring a hospital stay of at least 14 days, were randomised to receive either hypnosis or stress reducing strategies (SRS) adjunctively to routine intramuscular pre-dressing change analgesia and anxiolytic drugs. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for anxiety, pain, pain control and satisfaction were recorded at 2-day intervals throughout the 14-day study period, before, during and after dressing changes. The psychological assistance was given on days 8 and 10 after hospital admission. The comparison of the two treatment groups indicated that VAS anxiety scores were significantly decreased before and during dressing changes when the hypnotic technique was used instead of SRS. No difference was observed for pain, pain control and satisfaction, although VAS scores were always better in the hypnosis group. The study also showed that, overall, psychological support interventions reduced pain and increased patient satisfaction. These results confirm the potential benefits of psychological assistance during dressing changes in burned patients.