Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2025
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Sharon Blackerby
Abstract
Background: Needle fear and stress are common barriers preventing adults from seeking necessary medical treatments, including intramuscular (IM) injection therapy. Research highlights the need for evidence-based interventions to mitigate this fear and improve patient experience.
Objective: This evidence-based pilot project included a Zen Bundle—an intervention incorporating shared decision-making, aromatherapy, and distraction—to evaluate the impact on stress reduction and patient satisfaction in a retail vitamin shop in North Texas.
Methods: The project utilized a pre-and post-intervention design over eight weeks. Participants completed pre-surveys assessing stress levels using a Visual Analog Scale before choosing an intervention (aromatherapy, distraction, or both) during IM therapy. Post-intervention surveys measured stress reduction and patient satisfaction using a 5-point Likert scale. A paired-sample t-test analyzed changes in stress levels, and ANOVA assessed satisfaction differences.
Results: Of the 31 approached, 96.8% (n = 30) agreed to participate. A significant reduction in stress was observed from pre- to post-intervention (M = 2.567, SD = 1.870), t(29)=7.519, p < .001, with a large effect size (d = 1.373). Additionally, 96.7% of participants reported being "very satisfied" with their experience.
Conclusion: The Zen Bundle demonstrated significant stress reduction and high satisfaction among participants, supporting its feasibility as a patient-centered intervention. Future recommendations included expansion to additional locations and further review into long-term effects and broader healthcare applications. Integrating holistic stress-reduction strategies may improve patient engagement and healthcare experiences across diverse settings.
Keywords
Needle fear or phobia, Complementary alternative therapies, Stress, Anxiety, Intravenous therapy, Invasive procedures, Lavender, Essential oils, Aromatherapy, Distraction methods, Shared decision-making
Disciplines
Alternative and Complementary Medicine | Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Other Nursing | Pain Management | Psychological Phenomena and Processes | Public Health and Community Nursing | Public Health Education and Promotion
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Bowen, Valoree, "Reducing Stress Related to Injection Therapy: A Zen Bundle Approach" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects. 93.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/nursing_dnpprojects/93
Included in
Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Other Nursing Commons, Pain Management Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons, Public Health and Community Nursing Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons