Structuring and Anxiety Reduction Prior to Myelography

Abstract

A form of structuring (providing specific procedural and sensory information, in combination) was effective in lessening anxiety of medical patients scheduled to undergo myelography. Myelography is a complex diagnostic x-ray procedure used to assess nerve damage of the spinal cord which may be serious enough to warrant surgery. Not only was structuring shown to be therapeutically significant, but it was suggested that structuring may provide an additional means of adequately meeting the informed consent requirement prior to medical intervention.