None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Surgery is a psychological stressor, with patients’ concerns including fear of pain, death, and separation from family. Psychological stress has been shown to impair the production of cytokines involved in wound healing and to slow the healing of small experimental wounds. Psychological stress has also been associated with altered levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases involved in wound repair in surgical patients. Furthermore, relaxation exercises have been found to improve indices of wound healing and levels of fatigue following surgery. More research is needed to investigate the effects of other types of interventions on healing after surgery. There is evidence that three, 20-minute sessions of writing about personal emotional events can improve the healing of small experimental wounds, but no research has investigated the effects of expressive writing on the healing of wounds in surgical patients. This research aims to test whether written emotional disclosure can improve wound healing in surgical patients. We will randomise 90 patients scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery to either write about traumatic events or to a control group. We will measure stress, mood, social support, cytokines, fatigue, and wound healing. This research has implications for the delivery of pre-operative care to optimise outcomes
Interventions
Participants in the intervention group will be asked to write for 20 minutes a day, for three days about upsetting/traumatic events in their lives (written emotional disclosure). This writing will take place approximately 2 weeks prior to surgery. This writing will be completed in a quiet place at the patient's home.
At the baseline visit (after written informed consent has been obtained), the Study Co-ordinator will give the participant an envelope containing writing instructions (that have
Participants in the intervention group will be asked to write for 20 minutes a day, for three days about upsetting/traumatic events in their lives (written emotional disclosure). This writing will take place approximately 2 weeks prior to surgery. This writing will be completed in a quiet place at the patient's home. At the baseline visit (after written informed consent has been obtained), the Study Co-ordinator will give the participant an envelope containing writing instructions (that have been randomized). Along with the writing instructions, the envelope will contain a notebook, a pen, a post-writing questionnaire, and a pre-paid envelope to post completed essays back to investigators (at the participant’s discretion). Note: the writing can be performed by typing or by hand (in the notebook provided). The writing will not be supervised, as the writing will be performed at the participant's home, at a time convenient to the participant. However, the participant will be contacted by the Study Co-ordinator on the first day of writing to remind the participant to write, and to provide the participant the opportunity to ask any questions they may have.
Sponsors
Elizabeth Broadbent
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
all patients who are scheduled for bariatric surgery at ADHB
Exclusion criteria
aged less than 16 years; unable to communicate in English; have enduring power of attorney (e.g. may lack the ability to consent freely); and, are currently clinically depressed
Outcome results
None listed