Table 1
Characteristics of the student population.
| CHARACTERISTIC | MENTAL IMAGERY N = 33 | CONTROL N = 31 | OVERALL N = 64 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | |||
| Median [Q1, Q3] | 22 [21, 23] | 23 [22, 23] | 22 [22, 23] |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 10 (30%) | 11 (35%) | 21 (33%) |
| Female | 23 (70%) | 20 (65%) | 43 (67%) |
| Right-Handed | |||
| No | 4 (12%) | 7 (23%) | 11 (17%) |
| Yes | 29 (88%) | 24 (77%) | 53 (83%) |
| Previous experience in PVC insertion | |||
| 0 | 16 (48%) | 9 (29%) | 25 (39%) |
| 1 | 8 (24%) | 7 (23%) | 15 (23%) |
| 2–5 | 6 (18%) | 9 (29%) | 15 (23%) |
| 6–10 | 1 (3.0%) | 3 (9.7%) | 4 (6.3%) |
| > 10 | 2 (6.1%) | 3 (9.7%) | 5 (7.8%) |
| Insertion site | |||
| Forearm | 17 (52%) | 17 (55%) | 34 (53%) |
| Arm | 11 (33%) | 11 (35%) | 22 (34%) |
| Elbow joint | 5 (15%) | 3 (9.7%) | 8 (13%) |
Figure 1
Study Flow Chart.
PVC: peripheral venous catheter.
Figure 2
Uncomplicated first-puncture success rate.
The uncomplicated first-puncture success rate was significantly higher in the mental imagery group (n = 25/33, 76%) compared to the control group (n = 16/31, 52%).
Figure 3
Distribution of the number of punctures by group.
The bar chart displays the proportion of students requiring 1, 2, or ≥ 3 punctures to achieve success.
Figure 4
Variation in the adapted MIQ score.
Boxplots represent the median and interquartile range (IQR) of the score improvement (Delta MIQ) in each group. Individual data points are overlaid. The increase in MIQ score was significantly higher in the mental imagery group compared to the control group (median = +17 [+12, +22], versus +11 [+8, +18], respectively).