Effect of Jacobsen's Relaxation Technique on the Anxiety and Job Stress of Nurses Caring COVID-۱۹ Patients

Aims: During the COVID-۱۹ epidemic, the stress and anxiety of nurses were high due to the rapid transmission of the disease. Studies show the effectiveness of the Jacobsen relaxation technique in stress and anxiety control. This study aimed to determine the effect of Jacobsen's relaxation technique on the anxiety and job stress of nurses caring COVID-۱۹ patients. Materials & Methods: This clinical trial was carried out on ۷۰ nurses caring for COVID-۱۹ patients in ۲۰۲۱-۲۰۲۲. The subjects were assigned to control and intervention groups by random block sampling. After designing the Jacobsen relaxation application, it was installed on the mobile phones of the subjects in the intervention group. The subjects of the intervention group were asked to perform the Jacobsen relaxation technique ۳۰ minutes every day for one month, whereas the control group did not receive any intervention. The anxiety scale of Spielberger's state and Esipow occupational stress questionnaires were filled out by the subjects of the two groups before, immediately, and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated analysis of variance, Chi-square, and independent T tests through SPSS ۱۹ software. Findings: No significant difference was observed in situational and characteristic anxiety and job stress between two groups at different times (p>۰.۰۵). There was no significant difference between the average anxiety and occupational stress between the groups at different times (p>۰.۰۵). Conclusion: The use of the Jacobsen relaxation technique using a mobile application cannot improve the anxiety and occupational stress of nurses.

Keywords:

Jacobsen technique , Nurse , Job stress , Anxiety , Covid-۱۹