Progressive Relaxation Exercises Applied After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Surgery; Pain Intensity, Physiological Parameters, Anxiety and Its Effect on Discharge

INTRODUCTION: Among gastrointestinal system diseases, gallbladder diseases are the most common. As is the case after every surgical intervention, changes occur in the patient's homeostasis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery. Studies have shown that more than half of the patients experience moderate to severe pain in the postoperative period. In addition, postoperative pain negatively affects the patients' quality of life by reducing their comfort levels. Progressive relaxation exercises, one of the cognitive-behavioral techniques, aim to gradually contract and relax the patients' muscles. Progressive relaxation exercises; It provides stabilization in physiological parameters by reducing pain caused by muscle tension and increased sympathetic activity after surgery.

At the end of this initiative, it is anticipated that the patient's comfort and satisfaction will increase, the healing process will accelerate, the duration of hospital stay will decrease and, accordingly, hospital care costs will decrease.

PURPOSE: The aim of the thesis study is to determine the progressive relaxation exercises applied after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery; To evaluate pain intensity, physiological parameters, anxiety and its effect on discharge.

METHOD: Planned as a randomized controlled experimental study, patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery at Bartın State Hospital General Surgery Clinic were evaluated according to the algorithm created by the computer program (https://www.randomizer.org/) using numbers from 1 to 102. It will be randomly divided into 2 blocks. A two-block randomization will be made, the first block will be determined as the control group and the second block will be determined as the experimental group. There will be 104 patients in total, 52 in each group. In addition to routine treatment, patients in the experimental group will receive progressive relaxation exercises at the 6th and 10th hour after surgery. After the application, the effect of changes on the patients' pain, physiological parameters, anxiety and discharge will be recorded. 'Data Collection Form', 'Visual Comparison Scale (VAS)', 'Physiological Parameters Monitoring Form', 'State-Trait Anxiety Scale' and 'Readiness for Discharge Scale' will be used to collect data. The analysis of the collected data will be evaluated using the SPSS for Windows 22 program.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Volunteer to participate in the research,
* No visual or auditory problems,
* Able to speak and understand Turkish,
* No diagnosed psychiatric problems,
* No complications such as bleeding, nausea or vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery,
* Not using patient-controlled analgesia and opioids for postoperative pain control,
* Patients with a pain score ≥4 according to the Visual Comparison Scale will be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those who do not volunteer to participate in the research,
* Having visual or auditory problems,
* Those who cannot speak or understand Turkish,
* Having a diagnosed psychiatric problem,
* Complications such as bleeding, nausea and vomiting occur after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery,
* Using patient-controlled analgesia and opioids for postoperative pain control,
* Patients with a pain score \<4 according to the Visual Comparison Scale will not be included.