Prepare for Surgery Study
Patients preparing for knee and hip replacement surgeries have the opportunity to enroll in the “Prepare for Surgery” study which incorporates use of complementary healing therapies.
Given the focus on holistic care within the discipline of nursing, the aim of this pre-operative educational intervention study is to provide patients with access to a holistic approach to a pre-scheduled surgical intervention through the combined use of the following four complementary techniques:
- Relaxation;
- Visualization;
- Use of a “support group” to send positive thoughts and/or prayers to the patient on the day of surgery; and
- Use of therapeutic healing statements during the operative procedure.
It is hypothesized that patients who participate in the Prepare for Surgery interventions, will experience less pre-operative anxiety, less post-operative discomfort, and reduced length of post-operative stay as compared to patients who participate in only the standard pre-operative class.
Patricia Reilly, RN, MSN, program manager of Integrative Care and Chris Dutkiewicz, RN, MSN, nurse manager for Care Coordination are the study’s principal investigators. Nursing staff from the pre-op holding area, OR, PACU, and 16 AB will be instrumental in assisting the principal investigators with this work. The study was approved by the BWH Human Subjects Review Committee and is currently enrolling patients.