The effect of guided imagery upon first semester nursing students performing their first injections

J Nurs Educ. 1990 Oct;29(8):346-50. doi: 10.3928/0148-4834-19901001-06.

Abstract

This study examined the effect of guided imagery upon the anxiety of baccalaureate nursing students learning to perform their first injections. The quasi-experimental post test design used a treatment (imagery) group and a control group of subjects who were first semester undergraduate students. Anxiety was measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Biodot stress dots, performance time, and performance score. Analyses of covariance were performed on the post treatment STAI scores, performance times, and performance scores. A Kruskal-Wallis was performed on post treatment Biodot stress dot reading. Results indicated statistically significant lower anxiety levels by self-report (STAI), p = .008, in the experimental group. No statistically significant differences were found in the Biodot stress dot readings, p = .6777, performance times, p = .130, or performance scores, p = .774. The significance of the findings is that if guided imagery reduces self-reported anxiety levels in nursing students, introduction of this teaching strategy early in the curriculum may be beneficial to students.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Anxiety / prevention & control*
  • Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imagination*
  • Injections, Intramuscular / nursing*
  • Male
  • Models, Nursing
  • Students, Nursing / psychology*
  • Teaching / methods*
  • Teaching / standards