Generating Evidence for Perceptions, Knowledge, Beliefs, and Use of Music, Aromatherapy and Guided Imagery in Critical Care Settings

Abstract

This dissertation begins with two integrative reviews of literature constituting the current evidence on the use of music, aromatherapy and guided imagery for the symptom management of pain, insomnia and anxiety in critically ill patients. The first integrative review of literature examines the use of music therapy for the management of anxiety, pain, and insomnia in critical care. Following this, the dissertation proceeds with an examination of the evidence of aromatherapy and guided imagery in improving the signs and symptoms of anxiety, pain, and insomnia in critical care. The results of these integrative reviews offer evidence-based insights of the use of these three therapies in critical care. The dissertation also includes a brief background of the development of Tracy et al.’s survey from 2003, which was used in a national survey of critical care nurses on the attitudes, knowledge and use of complementary therapies. Since then no other surveys have been conducted in the United States, thus contemporary perceptions, use and knowledge of critical care nurses regarding complementary therapies are virtually unknown in this area. This dissertation concludes with results of a study examining the perceptions, knowledge, beliefs and use of complementary therapies of critical care nurses from multiple intensive care units within a single tertiary care hospital. The survey was administered twice 4-6 weeks apart, generating the consistency of responses data of the survey measures. For the cohesiveness of this dissertation, the results presented focus on the domains of perceptions, knowledge, beliefs, and use related to the three primary therapies of interest: Music therapy, aromatherapy and guided imagery. Further, the consistency of responses data for these three therapies are evaluated pertinent to eight items/measures related to the domains of perceptions, knowledge, beliefs, and use of these three therapies. Finally, the implications of this body of work related to practice, education and research are presented.