simple positive words from the caregiver can ease the pain

“Attention, punch”, would not be the ideal sentence to say before a blood test or epidural. This is what a new study published in the journal British Journal of anesthesia, where ICU anesthetists analyzed the impact of words spoken during the installation of an infusion on patients’ pain.

Compare the effects of three types of communication

“We sought to compare the effects of three types of communication on patients’ pain, comfort and anxiety during infusion placement.” on the back of the hand, explain the authors in the preamble. They affirm it “The use of words related to pain or adverse experiences can lead to increased pain and anxiety. Conversely, the use of positive words can improve the patient’s perception of pain and subjective experience.”

Before the bite, a first group of patients under hypnosis heard “How did you get to the hospital this morning, how long did it take you to come? Is your bike still going to the pool?”, a second group heard: “I put on a rubber band, disinfect, I put the infusion” and the third group heard: “I squeeze my withers tight, it’s cold, be careful, it will hurt, one two three punch”.

“The goal is to create confusion”

With: “of the 272 subjects analyzed, pain after puncture was lower in the hypnosis group than in the second and third groups”, the researchers write. “While anxiety was higher and comfort lower before infusion in the hypnotic group, anxiety decreased and comfort perception increased after sting when hypnosis was used.” specify.

“The goal is to create confusion”, concludes in Science and the future Dr Fusco, intensive care anesthetist at Rennes University Hospital, research director. “What we recommend is to choose the words based on what you feel with each patient by going to meet him and exchanging with him, as soon as he is in front of him, even before the realization of the gesture, in order to personalize the message to make it more effective “. Three different hospitals were requested for the study: Rennes University Hospital, Saint Grégoire Hospital and Saint Luc Hospital in Brussels.