Effects of Guided Imagery on Maternal Stress During Hospitalization for Preterm Labor
Audio File
- Describe the maternal-fetal consequences of stress during pregnancy.
- Examine the biobehavioral effects of guided imagery on maternal stress during hospitalization.
- Discuss implication for practice based on study findings.
Design: This 10 day repeated measures pilot study used a one group pre/post test design
Setting: Inpatient antepartum obstetrical unit in a tertiary hospital
Patients/Participants: Pregnant 18-45 year old women between 20-34 weeks gestation hospitalized with a diagnosis of preterm labor
Methods: Nineteen pregnant women between 20-34 weeks gestation were recruited from the antepartum unit of a tertiary care hospital. Following informed consent, participants completed a demographic questionnaire and were asked to listen daily to a 20 minute guided imagery (GI) compact disc, which was selected to enhance study outcomes. Daily study measures collected pre and post intervention included the Daily Numeric Rating Scale of Stress (NRSS) completed by the participant and Daily Blood Pressure Log completed by the assigned nurse. Daily practice logs completed by the participant provided information on intervention use and perceived benefits.
Results: Mean perceived stress level after listening to the intervention was significantly lower than the mean level of perceived stress prior to listening to GI (Z=-3.54, p< .001). Eighty four percent of cases had lower perceived stress scores after listening to GI, while the remainder had equivalent pre-and post-treatment scores. Post-intervention mean systolic blood pressure was significantly lower than the mean score prior to listening to GI (t (18) = 2.35, p=.031). While 53% of participants had lower diastolic blood pressure post intervention, no significant differences were found in pre-intervention diastolic blood pressure and post-intervention diastolic blood pressure. One hundred percent of participants wrote in their daily logs at least one benefit
Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice: Findings support the effectiveness of the GI intervention in reducing daily perceived stress levels and systolic blood pressure in pregnant women hospitalized for preterm labor. The perceived benefits identified by participants suggest the acceptance of this mind-body intervention. As a relatively simple and cost-effective intervention, GI is a promising intervention to reduce daily stress and systolic blood pressure in women hospitalized for preterm labor.
Keywords: Guided imagery, Maternal stress, Preterm labor, Biobehavioral
