Clinical Trials

The techniques and procedures we teach have been rigorously tested. Their benefits and outcomes are well documented in our clinical trials with >125,000 patient visits. Here are executive summaries with the supporting articles in peer-reviewed publications:

Comfort Talk® fundamentally alters the way pain and anxiety are processed making medical procedures more comfortable, safer, and faster.


A 40% reduction in the claustrophobia non-completion rate in a large private practice MRI group translated into an annual savings of more than $120,000 in 2010. A 40% reduction was found again in 2016 in large university-based MRI centers. This translated into annual savings between $0.5 and $1 Million in 2016.


The Comfort Talk® pro app reduces anxiety and pain in the dental waiting room.

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In a 2018 economic analysis, profits increased $12,800 per 1,000 scheduled patients in freestanding MRI sites.


Interventional radiology saved an average of $338 per case due to shorter procedure times, fewer complications, and faster recovery.


Patient satisfaction rankings improved significantly after training in a 2013 and 2017 study.


In a saturated market, patients preferentially visited Comfort Talk® trained sites over untrained sites.


No-shows in MRI significantly decreased after Comfort Talk® Training


Room time in the catheterization suite was shortened by 17 minutes and in the breast biopsy suite by 7 minutes.


Patients had more stable vital signs (fewer vasovagal reactions and blood pressure deviations) and fewer complications.


The culture of an institution rather than patient needs determined the amounts of drugs given during procedures VIDEO


Comfort Talk® reduced the need for sedatives and opioids


Words matter.


Interpersonal and communication skills of residents and fellows significantly improved helping with ACGME requirements and practice needs.


Diagnostic tests can be the most stressful.


Patients with negative affect have more complications.


Increasing age does not mitigate the usefulness of Comfort Talk® during invasive medical procedures. Better oxygen saturation as compared to standard care is an extra important benefit considering brain health for older patients.


A validated rapid assessment for anxiety during medical encounters can help researchers planning clinical trials.


Here we looked at how patient characteristics can affect outcomes in clinical trials.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of grants that enabled the clinical trials that form the basis for what you will learn with Comfort Talk®

2017-2018
Nonpharmacologic reduction of periprocedural pain, anxiety, and prescription drug use.
R43 AT009517 NIH/NCCIH
PI ($150,000)

2014-2018
Amelioration of Claustrophobia and Disruptive Patient Motion in MR Imaging
NIH/NCCAM, R44AT006296
PI ($1,001,495)

2011-2014
Amelioration of Claustrophobia and Disruptive Patient Motion in MR Imaging
NIH/NCCAM, R43AT006296
PI ($640,032)

3 Center Trial (Boston Medical Center, Tufts Medical Center, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center): “Amelioration of Claustrophobia and Disruptive Patient Motion in MR Imaging” evaluating the effect of staff education in Comfort Talk® on the patient experience and economic outcomes encompassing >90,000 patient visits
NIH/NCCAM R43AT006296

1999-2009
Research Training: Complementary and Integrative Medicine (R. Phillips, PI)
NIH-NCCAM, 5T32AT00051
Co-Invest.

2003-2007
Enhancing the Placebo Effect in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Ted Kaptchuk, PI)
NCCAM, AT-02-001
Co-Invest.

2002-2007
K 24 Midcareer Development in Nonpharmacologic Analgesia (Score 118)
NIH, 1K24AT01074-01
PI ($661,203)

2001-2007
Nonpharmacologic Analgesia for Invasive Procedures (Competing Continuation)
(Score 180, 15 Percentile)
NIH-NCCAM, 2 RO1 AT00002-05
PI ($1,725,000)

2001-2004
Self-hypnotic relaxation for large core breast biopsy (98 percentile of possible 99 percentile)
Dept. of Defense, BCRP Proposal, IDEA Award, DAMD 17-01-1-0153
PI (BCRP Proposal. $300,000; total cost $522,000)

2000-2004
Presurgery Hypnosis: Benefits Analysis in Breast Cancer (Guy Montgomery, PI)
NCI , K07 CA87021-01A1
Consult.

1997-2000
Interventional Device Center, Clinical Initiative Grant
The University of Iowa/ College of Medicine Clinical Enterprise
PI ($192,540)
Under the auspices of this grant we produced custom devices for patients. In its first year of operation, the Center generated $1.25 million for the hospital

1997
Unrestricted Educational Grants for “Strategies for Pain Management: An Interdisciplinary Symposium and Workshop for Health Care Professionals
Cook Inc, Schneider Inc, Abbott Laboratories, ASTRA
PI ($9,500)

1996
Teaching Nonpharmacologic Analgesia
Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education, The University of Iowa
PI ($5,000)

1994
Institutional training grant: Training of radiology personnel in nonpharmacologic sedation University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Department of Radiology
PI ($5,600)

1994
Unrestricted Educational Grant for Iowa Radiological Society Meeting
Cook Inc. and Abbott Laboratories
PI ($4,500)

1994
Educational grant: Training of radiology personnel in Anodyne Imagery
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Palo Alto
PI ($3,600)

1994
Health Services Research and Development grant: Interactive guided imagery in interventional radiology
Department of Veterans Affairs
PI ($9,998)

Comfort Talk® Training Course
Now you can learn the techniques and procedures used in Comfort Talk®. For more information CLICK HERE