Clinical Research Directory

Virtual Reality and Olfactory Stimuli Multimodal Intervention to Reduce Post-Operative Pain and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Cardiothoracic Surgery

Patients who undergo cardiothoracic surgery often experience pain and anxiety around the time of surgery. Currently, treatments for pain and anxiety around the time of surgery include opioids and benzodiazepines, which can have severe side effects and can be ineffective. Interventions combining virtual reality with olfactory stimuli are a promising alternative to opioids and benzodiazepines in the treatment of pain and anxiety around the time of surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a virtual reality and olfactory stimuli multimodal intervention in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. In addition, the investigators will evaluate the preliminary effects of the VR/OS intervention on patient pain and anxiety before and after cardiothoracic surgery. Patients who meet study inclusion criteria and are undergoing cardiothoracic surgery may participate in this study. Patients have an equal being assigned to undergo the virtual reality and olfactory stimuli intervention or continue getting usual medical care with their doctor. If the patient is assigned to receive the virtual reality and olfactory stimuli intervention, the first therapy session will take place approximately two to four weeks before surgery. This will involve wearing a virtual reality headset and scented necklace for approximately 10 minutes. The second session will occur 90 minutes before the surgery. Additionally, for each day the patient recovers in the hospital after surgery, the patient will receive one session in the afternoon. During the patient's in-hospital recovery at night, they will receive lavender scented therapy.

Meditation Effects on Discomfort, Pain InTerference, and AnxieTy After urEteroscopy

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn whether meditation can help improve recovery in children and adults having surgery for kidney stones. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does meditation around the time of surgery improve pain and anxiety in patients undergoing kidney stone surgery (ureteroscopy)? * Is a meditation program around the time of surgery feasible for patients having kidney stone surgery (ureteroscopy)? Participants will be randomly assigned to the meditation group and the control group to understand how meditation affects recovery after surgery. Participants will be asked to: * Complete a health history form * Complete questionnaires about pain and mood before surgery and certain days after surgery * Those in the meditation group will learn and practice a daily 20-minute meditation for 2-4 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after surgery * Those in the meditation group will be asked to provide feedback of the meditation program after completing the last questionnaire

Influence of a PSychological Intensive Support Program for Lung Cancer Patients ON Post-operative Outcomes.

Anxiety is common among patients diagnosed with lung cancer, affecting 50-60% of cases, and over 30% report moderate to severe psychological distress. This distress includes symptoms such as depression, anxiety and social withdrawal. The waiting period before lung resection often heightens emotional tension due to fears about reduced respiratory function and postoperative dyspnea. Persistent anxiety may continue during follow-up because of the risk of recurrence and the potential need for adjuvant therapy. Previous studies have shown that high perioperative anxiety is associated with longer hospitalization, increased complications, particularly delirium and cardiac arrhythmias, and poorer adherence to treatment. This study aims to assess whether a brief, intensive preoperative psychological intervention reduces anxiety levels in lung cancer patients, measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Scores of 0-7 indicate normal levels, ≥ 8 probable anxiety or depression. Additional tools include the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (0-7 no insomnia, 8-14 subthreshold, 15-21 moderate, 22-28 severe). At hospital discharge, patients were invited to complete a questionnaire about satisfaction. Measurement of psychological test will be collected at the first visit (T0), the day before surgery (T1) and 30 day after surgery (T3); VAS and ISI measurements were collected at T1, the day after surgery (T2) and 30 day after surgery (T3). Patients are divided into three groups: an intervention group receiving four weekly 45-minute psychological sessions, a pathological control group refusing support, and a healthy control group without anxiety. Primary outcomes are changes in HADS scores between T0 and T1; secondary outcomes include complications, pain, insomnia, length of stay, and patient satisfaction. The study is a twelve-month prospective controlled trial with an estimated 46 patients per group

Perioperative Anxiety Risk Factors in Parents of Children Undergoing Thoracic Surgery

Risk factors associated with perioperative anxiety in parents of pediatric patients undergoing thoracic surgery are unknown. It is therefore necessary to identify them in order to better understand, above all, modifiable factors. This will allow the implementation of psychological interventions tailored to the individual needs of parents to strengthen their coping mechanisms before surgery, and thus facilitate the recovery process of their children after surgery. The purpose of the study is: 1. assessment of the level of anxiety experienced by parents before and after thoracic surgery, 2. assessment of risk factors for parents' perioperative anxiety, 3. assessment of the relationship between parents' perioperative anxiety and satisfaction with postoperative analgesia