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Sorry Not Sorry: Apologizing and Its Effect on Discomfort During Dressing Removal

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Bandages
Pain
Empathy
Interventions
Behavioral: Saying "sorry"
Registration Number
NCT03216629
Lead Sponsor
London Health Sciences Centre
Brief Summary

Use of dressing is common place following surgery, allowing for wounds to be covered and protected. Dressing material with adhesive contact layers or adhesive tape is integral to sealing off the wound. Mechanical stripping of stratum corneum during dressing removal causes pain and discomfort. During dressing removal, practitioners may at times apologize as a function of empathy. Previous study investigated speed of dressing removal and its effect on discomfort during dressing change. In this study, the investigators aim to investigate how empathy expressed in form of saying "sorry" affect the perception of pain during dressing change?

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
25
Inclusion Criteria
  • Healthy adult volunteers, age >18.
Exclusion Criteria
  • individuals with sensitivity to tape or dressing, anxiety disorders, or pain syndromes.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
SorrySaying "sorry"A small strip of self-adhesive dressing (3cm by 4cm) will be applied to the back of the patients' participants' hand and side of neck. After one minute of acclimatization, the dressing will be removed by the examiner. During the removal, the examiner will say sorry repeatedly. Following the dressing removal, participant will rate their pain with a 10 point visual analog scale.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
PainImmediate

Based on self reported 10 point visual analog scale

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

London Health Science Centre - Victoria Hospital

🇨🇦

London, Ontario, Canada

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