PURPOSE: This study investigated whether hormones and pain perception are associated with exam anxiety, and also whether exam anxiety is affected by seasonal differences in testosterone and cortisol levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six healthy males were recruited from a medical college. Anxiety was induced by having participants perform the Objective Structured Clinical Examination. Pressure was applied to the participants to induce pain. Pain thresholds, pain ratings, anxiety ratings, blood pressure, heart rate, salivary testosterone and cortisol levels were measured under resting and anxiety conditions in the spring and summer. Data were collected from 46 participants during the spring (n=25) and summer (n=21). RESULTS: Pain thresholds and testosterone levels were significantly lower under anxiety than at rest for all participants (n=46), while cortisol levels, pain ratings, and anxiety ratings were significantly higher under anxiety than at rest. In the spring (n=25), testosterone levels were significantly higher at rest than under anxiety, while there was no difference in cortisol levels between resting and anxiety conditions. In the summer (n=21), cortisol levels were significantly higher under anxiety than at rest, while there was no difference in testosterone levels between resting and anxiety conditions. There were no significant seasonal differences in pain and anxiety ratings and pain threshold. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that seasonal differences in testosterone and cortisol levels under anxiety and at rest may affect pain responses. These results also suggest that acute clinical pain may be relieved by managing anxiety that is related to a decrease of testosterone in spring and a large increase of cortisol in summer.
Adult ; Anxiety/*blood ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/*blood ; Male ; Pain/*blood/*physiopathology ; Seasons ; Testosterone/*blood ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTION: Intravenous sedation is performed to ensure smooth and safe surgery. Dental anxiety is a reaction to an unknown danger. The Spielberger's state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) can be used to simultaneously evaluate the levels of state and trait anxiety. State anxiety is defined as subjective feelings of nervousness. This study assessed the presurgical anxiety using STAI and performed intravenous sedation for patients whose level of state anxiety was > stage IV. Based on our clinical experience, it is believed that higher doses of sedatives are needed to induce the desired levels of sedation in patients with a high level of state anxiety. OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether the sedative consumption of the patient with a high anxiety level increased. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with state anxiety scores of > or =51 were included in Group V, and those with state anxiety scores ranging from 42 to 50 were placed in Group IV. To induce sedation, intravenous access was established, and a bolus dose of 3.0 mg midazolam was administered intravenously. Sedation was maintained by administering a continuous infusion of propofol, which was aimed at achieving an Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scale of 10-12/20. In this study, midazolam was initially administered when the body movements appeared to occur or the blood pressure increased. This was followed by the administration of higher doses of propofol if low sedation was observed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the patient demographics, duration of sedation, and doses of local anaesthetic agents between Groups IV and V. The midazolam dose and mean propofol dose needed to maintain comparable levels of sedation were significantly higher in Group V than in Group IV. CONCLUSION: In female patients, whose level of preoperative state anxiety is more than Stage V of STAI, a large quantity of sedatives is needed for intravenous sedation.
Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Demography ; Dental Anxiety ; Dietary Sucrose ; Female ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Midazolam ; Molar, Third ; Propofol

PURPOSE: This research is to know whether aroma foot massage has influence on the relief of anxiety and pain during colonoscopy under conscious sedation. METHOD: This research was designed as a quasi-experiment of non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest. Data were collected from April 1 2005 to August 30 2005. The subjects were divided into three groups (control group, foot massage group and aroma foot massage group) with 30 persons each. Anxiety was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), blood pressure and pulse. Pain response was measured with VAS and non-verbal pain behavior score. Sleep satisfaction was measured with a graphic rating scale. Data were analyzed through Chi-square test, t-test and repeated measure ANOVA. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure, pulse, subjective anxiety and pain scores from the aroma foot massage group decreased significantly. Sleep satisfaction score of the aroma foot massage group increased significantly. Diastolic blood pressure from the aroma foot massage group did not decrease. CONCLUSION: The results show that aroma foot massage with refined oils can increase sleep satisfaction and decrease anxiety and pain during colonoscopy under conscious sedation.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure ; Colonoscopy* ; Conscious Sedation* ; Foot* ; Humans ; Massage* ; Oils

PURPOSE: The study was done to analyze the effects of aroma inhalation method on preoperative anxiety of abdominal surgical patients. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The data were collected from July 25 to October 21, 2005 at C Medical Center in Seoul. The patients were divided into two group of 24 subjects each. In order for measuring the all patient's anxiety before operation and aroma inhalation, Spidlberger(1975) trait anxiety, VAS(visual analogue scale) state anxiety, blood pressure, pulse rate were taken. After experimental group was taken aroma inhalation, VAS state anxiety, blood pressure, pulse rate were measured for two group. RESULTS: After aroma inhalation, VAS state anxiety level, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate of the experimental group were decreased significantly than those of control group(p = .000, p = .000, p = .030. p = .000). CONCLUSION: The aroma inhalation method can be considered an effective nursing intervention that relieves the preoperative anxiety of abdominal surgical patients and stabilizes vital signs.
Anxiety ; Aromatherapy ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Research Design

PURPOSE: The study was done to analyze the effects of aroma inhalation method on preoperative anxiety of abdominal surgical patients. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The data were collected from July 25 to October 21, 2005 at C Medical Center in Seoul. The patients were divided into two group of 24 subjects each. In order for measuring the all patient's anxiety before operation and aroma inhalation, Spidlberger(1975) trait anxiety, VAS(visual analogue scale) state anxiety, blood pressure, pulse rate were taken. After experimental group was taken aroma inhalation, VAS state anxiety, blood pressure, pulse rate were measured for two group. RESULTS: After aroma inhalation, VAS state anxiety level, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate of the experimental group were decreased significantly than those of control group(p = .000, p = .000, p = .030. p = .000). CONCLUSION: The aroma inhalation method can be considered an effective nursing intervention that relieves the preoperative anxiety of abdominal surgical patients and stabilizes vital signs.
Anxiety ; Aromatherapy ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Research Design

A meta-analysis of 14 quasi-experimental studies was conducted to compare the effect of size on various relaxation therapies applied to patients and health volunteer students. These studies were selected from theses, dissertations and papers that have been done between 1982 to 1993. Also They have a randomized or nonequivalent control group in a pre test-post test design. The studies were evaluated in different ways; 1) types of relaxation therapy, 2) total amount of time of relaxation therapy, and 3) types of outcome variables. For a group of homogenious studies, the weighted mean effect size and standard error were estimated. Some findings are summarized as follows : 1. Jacobson relaxation therapy had a larger effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressures than on state anxiety. 2. For the total time of relaxation therapy, (longer than 60 minutes) had a much larger effect in decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressures than in the case of a time period shorter than 60 minutes. 3. Relaxation therapy applied to surgery patients also had a larger effect in decreasing state anxiety than when applied to other patients.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Volunteers

A meta-analysis of 14 quasi-experimental studies was conducted to compare the effect of size on various relaxation therapies applied to patients and health volunteer students. These studies were selected from theses, dissertations and papers that have been done between 1982 to 1993. Also They have a randomized or nonequivalent control group in a pre test-post test design. The studies were evaluated in different ways; 1) types of relaxation therapy, 2) total amount of time of relaxation therapy, and 3) types of outcome variables. For a group of homogenious studies, the weighted mean effect size and standard error were estimated. Some findings are summarized as follows : 1. Jacobson relaxation therapy had a larger effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressures than on state anxiety. 2. For the total time of relaxation therapy, (longer than 60 minutes) had a much larger effect in decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressures than in the case of a time period shorter than 60 minutes. 3. Relaxation therapy applied to surgery patients also had a larger effect in decreasing state anxiety than when applied to other patients.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Volunteers

Insulin is the most effective drug for reducing blood glucose in patients with diabetes commonly. But it has negative aspect for diabetic patients to change from oral hypoglycemic drug to insulin injection. Insulin injection makes patients feel reducing self-esteem and QOL (quality of life). So they complain depressive moods. Multiple insulin injection has an effect on patient's emotion more negatively than one or two injection of insulin. It is suggested that physicians much more concern about self-esteem and emotional aspect of patients when they prescript insulin
Anxiety ; Blood Glucose ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Insulin ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: This study was done to assess the influence of application time of Lidocaine patch on pain intensity following venipuncture in hospital. METHODS: The participants were 31 adult patients admitted to J hospital in G city. Patients' anxiety, blood pressure and pulse were measured when no patch was applied and when a patch was applied. To evaluate the pain intensity and physiological index caused by venipuncture, blood pressure, pulse and pain intensity were checked for patients in the no patch group, and for a 5 minutes of application and 30 minutes application patch. Pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale, anxiety using the Profile of Mood states developed McNair et al. and modified by Lee. Data were analyzed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: Anxiety and pain were significantly reduced when a lidocaine patch was applied following venipuncture. There was no significant difference in pain intensity whether the lidocaine patch application is for 30 minutes or application for 5 minutes. CONCLUSION: Results of this study show that application of lidocaine patch can be used as a nursing intervention for pain reduction by showing that there is no need to wait a long time for pain to be reduced.
Adult ; Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Lidocaine* ; Nursing ; Phlebotomy*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop effective timeout protocol in coordination with current practice and test its clinical effectiveness in pursuit of safety management for patients undergoing cataract surgery. METHODS: A total of subjects were 60 women, 50~65 years old, who visit C ophthalmology clinic in D city. They were assigned to 30 experimental group and 30 control group, respectively. Based on the comprehensive literature review, timeout protocol that was suitable for patients undergoing cataract surgery was developed, and then test its effectiveness by measuring blood pressure, pulse, anxiety and sense of well-being among surgical patients. RESULTS: The timeout protocol was found to reduce blood pressure, pulse, and anxiety and increase well-being among surgical patients. CONCLUSION: As a results, it is necessary to introduce an effective timeout protocol giving positive responses to surgical patients, hence it should be develop a timeout protocol and explore the effectiveness of the protocol.
Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Cataract* ; Female ; Humans ; Ophthalmology ; Safety Management