Effect of Guided Visualization on Anxiety of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Admitted to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Anxiety is a common phenomenon in cardiovascular diseases and its control is very important. This study aimed to investigate the effect of guided imagery on anxiety in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome in the cardiac intensive care unit. In this clinical trial in 2014, 50 patients with acute coronary syndrome in the cardiac intensive care unit of 22 Bahman Hospital in Gonabad City, Iran, were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into two control and experimental groups. At first, all the samples completed the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale of anxiety. In addition to usual care, experimental group listened to the CD of guided imagery 2 times a day, morning and night for 16 minutes and the control group received only routine care. At the end, the mentioned questionnaires were filled again and the data were analyzed in SPSS 14.5 software by independent T-test, Chi-square and Fisher exact tests. The mean of pretest and posttest scores of total anxiety and hidden anxiety in the experimental group decreased significantly compare with the control group (p<0.05), but mean score decreasing of the pretest and posttest of clear anxiety in the experimental group was not significant compare with the control group (p>0.05). Guided imagery can reduce the total anxiety and hidden anxiety of heart patients with acute coronary syndrome hospitalized in cardiac intensive care unit.