THE EFFECT OF PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION ANXIETY IN PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED WITH A MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 190
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of progressive relaxation for reducing anxiety on the day of transfer from the coronary care unit in patients who have had a myocardial infarction. The neurophysiological theory of altered states of consciousness developed by Gellhorn and Kiely (1972) served as the theoretical framework. They postulate that a decrease in proprioceptive afferent nerve impulses arising from the skeletal muscles produces the trophotropic syndrome. The syndrome consists of autonomic, somatic, and behavioral effects. Progressive relaxation was chosen as the mechanism for producing a decrease in proprioceptive impulses. Four hypotheses were developed to test the effectiveness of progressive relaxation for producing selected characteristics of the trophotropic syndrome.

The study was experimental using a pretest-posttest control group design with random assignment to treatment groups. The sample consisted of 32 hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Subjects in the relaxation group listened to a 20-minute tape which guided them through a progressive relaxation exercise. Subjects in the control group listened to a tape which explained the responsibilities of various hospital personnel.

Pretest and posttest measures of the dependent variables were obtained. Subjective feelings of anxiety were determined using the Spielberger Self-Evaluation Questionnaire Form X-1. Systolic blood pressure was ascertained using a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. Apical pulse rate was counted with a stethoscope. Premature ventricular contractions were evaluated using computerized telemetry.

Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance with the pretest measure of the dependent variable serving as the covariate. No relationship was found between participation in a progressive relaxation exercise and subjective feelings of anxiety, apical pulse rate, or premature ventricular contraction rate. A statistically significant relationship was found for systolic blood pressure. Subjects who participated in a progressive relaxation exercise had a greater decrease in systolic blood pressure than subjects who listened to the control tape.

It is recommended that nurses who identify sympathetic nervous system arousal as evidenced by increased systolic blood pressure could implement a progressive relaxation exercise as an appropriate nursing intervention. Future research is needed using multiple progressive relaxation sessions.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-07, Section: B, page: 2102.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1984.

School code: 0227.