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A Behavioral Intervention To Reduce Presurgical Anxiety, Alison J. Wheaton

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

A multiple baseline study was conducted across five hysterectomy patients between the ages of 30-36. Three patients received a treatment intervention consisting of general and sensory information, muscle relaxation, a cognitive coping technique, and a pre-anesthetic interview. Two yoked, placebo control patients watched a 20-min video· tape about surgery, practiced recovery exercises, and made up stories from TAT cards. Self-report measures taken were the Hospital Stress Rating Scale, a recovery inventory, and postsurgical pain ratings. Physiological measures consisted of pulse, respiration, blood pressure, skin temperature, and blood lactates. Recovery variables were taken on amount of pain medication taken, number ·of …