Type of Document Master's Thesis Author Joffe, Naomi Eve URN etd-04212009-104221 Title EVALUATION OF A BODY PILLOW TO AID PEDIATRIC SPINAL FUSION RECOVERY Degree Master of Arts Department Psychology Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Lindsey L. Cohen Committee Chair Chris Henrich Committee Member Erin Tone Committee Member Keywords
- Adolescents
- Positioning
- Spinal fusion surgery
- Medical pain
- Pediatric psychology
- Environmental factors
- Comfort
- Multiple-baseline design
Date of Defense 2008-12-08 Availability unrestricted Abstract Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to correct structural spinal damage or abnormalities. Recovery is painful and consists of a minimum 3-day hospital stay. Specific body positioning is necessary for healing but is difficult to maintain due to physical discomfort. The purpose of this study was to use a single-subject multiple baseline design to compare the current practice of using standard hospital pillows to a body-sized pillow for increasing comfort and decreasing pain in pediatric patients recovering from spinal fusion surgery. Four adolescents who had recently undergone spinal fusion surgery served as participants. Outcome measures included self- and nurse-report, heart rate, and requested medication. Three patients found that the BodyPillow® increased their comfort as they recovered from surgery; the fourth reported that he was less comfortable. No changes in pain were reported with the BodyPillow®. Results should help guide medical care and future research regarding pediatric spinal fusion recovery.
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