A quasi-experimental study to assess the effect of Benson’s relaxation on anxiety and depression among patients with heart failure in Jordan

Abstract

Background Despite advancements in treatment, heart failure (HF) remains a leading cause of death. Anxiety and depression (A&D) are highly prevalent among patients with HF, negatively impacting their mortality, and morbidity. The Benson relaxation technique (BRT) is a non-pharmacological approach that is easy to learn, use, and apply for reducing A&D. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the BRT in reducing A&D among patients with HF in Jordan. Methods This quasi-experimental pre and post-design study involved a consecutive sample of 204 participants with a confirmed diagnosis of HF. Data were collected from four hospitals in Jordan. Results A total of 204 patients participated in this study, with 138 males and 66 females. The mean A&D scores for the sample at baseline were 11.09±2.60 and 10.80±2.30, respectively. In the intervention group, there was a statistically significant difference between pre-intervention anxiety and post-intervention anxiety levels (P<0.001), as well as between pre-intervention depression and post-intervention depression levels (P<0.001). In contrast, the control group showed no statistically significant differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention A&D levels (P=0.83 and P=0.34) respectively. Conclusions BRT can be used as an adjunctive intervention for patients with HF to reduce A&D. Healthcare professionals should consider incorporating BRT into treatment plans, while nursing departments can lead its implementation.

Keywords

• anxiety
• depression
• heart failure
• relaxation therapy