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Audiovisual distraction reduces pain perception during shockwave lithotripsy
Emma Marsdin1, Jeremy G Noble, John M Reynard
1The Oxford Stone Group, The Churchill Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Journal of Endourology
|November 22, 2011
Summary
Audiovisual distraction significantly reduced pain and distress during lithotripsy, a kidney stone treatment. This simple method enhances patient comfort and treatment acceptance.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pain Management
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Lithotripsy is a common outpatient procedure for kidney stones.
- Patient discomfort and noise can negatively impact the lithotripsy experience.
- Audiovisual (AV) distraction has shown promise in reducing pain and improving satisfaction in other medical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of AV distraction in reducing perceived pain during lithotripsy.
- To test the hypothesis that AV distraction can improve patient comfort during the procedure.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with patients undergoing lithotripsy.
- Patients were assigned to either an AV distraction group (television and headphones) or a control group.
- Pain and distress were measured using visual analogue scales and radiographer-observed nonverbal scores.
Main Results:
- Patients receiving AV distraction reported significantly lower pain scores (mean 2.4 vs. 6.1).
- Distress scores were also significantly reduced in the AV distraction group (mean 1.0 vs. 4.4).
- Radiographer-observed nonverbal pain scores decreased from 1.5 to 0.5 with AV distraction.
Conclusions:
- Audiovisual distraction is a simple and effective method to reduce pain and distress during lithotripsy.
- Implementing AV distraction can improve patient acceptance and optimize the lithotripsy treatment experience.
