Effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation therapy in reducing anxiety among asthma patients in emergency department: a quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35816/jiksh.v15i2.387Keywords:
anxiety, asthma, emergency service, muscle relaxation, progressive, Nursing CareAbstract
Introduction: Introduction and Objective: Anxiety frequently accompanies acute asthma exacerbations in emergency settings and can worsen respiratory distress and patient outcomes. Non-pharmacological strategies such as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) may reduce anxiety through autonomic regulation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of PMR therapy on reducing anxiety levels among asthma patients in the Emergency Department of Prembun Regional Hospital.
Research Methodology: A quasi-experimental study with a one-group pretest–posttest design was conducted over one month. A total of 28 asthma patients with anxiety were recruited using purposive sampling. Anxiety was measured using the STAIS-5 instrument. Data were analyzed using a paired sample t-test with a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The mean anxiety score decreased from 3.10 ± 0.875 to 1.92 ± 1.015, with a mean difference (β) of 1.178 (95% CI: 0.898–1.458; p < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was observed between pre- and post-test scores (r = 0.717; p = 0.002). Clinically, there was a marked shift from predominantly severe anxiety before intervention to a higher proportion of patients reporting no anxiety after PMR therapy.
Conclusion: PMR therapy significantly reduces anxiety levels in asthma patients in emergency settings and can be recommended as a safe, simple, and effective complementary intervention. Integrating PMR into routine emergency nursing care may improve psychological stability and overall patient outcomes.
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