Effect of guided imagery on anxiety, muscle pain, and vital signs in patients with COVID-19: A randomized controlled trial.

The study population was restricted to patients aged 18 to 60 who were conscious, oriented, and had oxygen saturation above 90%, so the findings do not apply to older adults, those with severe respiratory distress, or those who are confused. The control group received routine care only, so it is unclear whether the benefits were due to the guided imagery itself or the extra attention and contact with the nurse during the sessions. The researchers noted that the high contagious nature of COVID-19 and the isolation setting may have influenced the anxiety levels of both patients and staff. The sample size was relatively small and recruitment was done via convenience sampling in a single setting in Iran, which may limit generalizability to other populations or healthcare systems.

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The research did not receive specific grant funding from any public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Do not assume guided imagery is a standalone treatment for COVID-19 or that it works for all patients. This study only included adults aged 18 to 60 who were stable enough to be in temporary accommodations with oxygen saturation above 90%. It showed that guided imagery added to routine care helped this specific group feel less anxious and in pain; it did not test guided imagery instead of medical care, nor did it include patients in intensive care or those with severe respiratory failure.