The efficacy of psychological preparation for gastroscopy was investigated by allocating 43 subjects presenting for routine diagnostic gastroscopy to three groups. Of these, eight received a detailed 40-minute preparation with information on the gastroscope, the examination procedure, sensations to be expected, and a variety of coping mechanisms, including relaxation techniques; 15 subjects had a 10-minute preparation in which brief procedural and sensory information were given, and two coping mechanisms described; 20 control subjects received no preparation. The briefly prepared subjects showed a decisive advantage over both the controls and the detailed preparation group in measures of mood and behavioural manifestations of stress. Implications of these findings are considered with regard to the emotional factors co-existing with gastric-duodenal ulcerative disease, particularly in a South African context, and for the cost-effective preparation of patients for this and other stressful medical procedures.
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