answered: What effect will this knowledge have on patient care?

Furthermore, in this technological age, are we sophisticated enough to

turn some of these findings into models for treatment plans based on

individual personality preferences and styles? Anderson and Masur

(1983) reviewed "the major psychological approaches designed to allevi-

ate preprocedural concern and enhance recovery" (p. 1). They summarized

outcome studies on commonly used preparatory techniques. These tech-

niques included informative, psychotherapeutic, modeling, behavioral,

cognitive behavioral, and hypnotic methods. The next logical step in

the evolution of this type of treatment should include evaluating the

individual for personality type prior to selecting the intervention.

Egbert (1985) expressed dismay that this kind of psychological interven-

tion was not coming from the ranks of anesthesiologists, yet the psycho-

logical literature has few such studies (as noted above). What is miss-

ing are reports of ongoing programs, not just limited research studies.


 The Independent Variables


The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator


 The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was developed by Isabel

Briggs Myers to test Jung's theory of psychological type. Details of

the theory and the validity of the instrument are noted in Chapters 1

and 3. Since 1975, the MBTI has been available to qualified users and

has been used extensively in education, management, counseling, and

religion. An extensive survey of the literature revealed no use of the

MBTI in the areas of medical or surgical health care.