Some patients feel shame, fear, or fear just before visiting the doctor, which makes them tense. But if they can relax and become calm, patients are likely to pay attention to and better understand health messages, a new study suggests.
Researchers tested whether increasing one's positive self through meditation can reduce the patient's negative feelings before the health information is obtained.
They found that intense negative emotion can cause a patient to focus on only one or two pieces of information and obscure other important details from the health messages. The findings came from four studies involving nearly 1,450 adults divided into groups. Some meditated or listened to audio instructing breathing exercises and relaxation. Others simply listened to historical information.
After completing the listening task, all participants read information about flu, cancer, HIV, herpes, and gonorrhea. Participants who relaxed reported paying more attention to the health messages. The meditation created a positive, low arousal effect, allowing them to retain the information.
The researchers recommend that people use their time wisely in the waiting room by meditating or listening to calming music, not just flipping through magazines or playing on their cell phones.
