Effect of progressive muscle relaxation with analgesic on anxiety status and pain in surgical patients.

INTRODUCTION:: surgery is a stressful experience for patients and most surgical patients have some degree of anxiety. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a relaxation technique in addition to narcotic analgesic on health promotion in surgical patients.

METHODS:: in this clinical trial, 70 patients who were candidates for elective upper and lower gastrointestinal system surgery were selected. They were randomly divided into two groups: case (morphine 0.15 mg/kg daily in divided doses and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)) and control (morphine 0.15 mg/kg daily in divided doses). The intervention group (case group) performed PMR from 6 hours before surgery until 24 hours after surgery. Vital signs and anxiety were evaluated in the two groups after surgery. Data were analysed by t-test, analysis of variance, and chi-square test.

RESULTS:: a statistically significant difference was seen in vital signs, pain and anxiety between the two groups. However, there was also a significant difference between them in terms of economic status and insurance coverage, which could have had an effect on stress and anxiety.

CONCLUSION:: PMR could increase the pain threshold, stress and anxiety tolerance and adaptation level in surgical patients. Therefore, using this technique could be an appropriate way to reduce analgesic drug consumption.