EVALUATION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO NON-DRUG TECHNIQUES OF BENSON MUSCLE RELAXATION AND MENTAL IMAGERY ON THE ANXIETY OF HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS IN MAHSHAHR CITY IN 2017: RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Anxiety involves feelings of helplessness, uncertainty and arousal. Control of
anxiety in patients is based on pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical methods. Among these, Benson's
muscle relaxation and mental imagery are more widely considered. But the difference the two methods
are still unknown. Therefore, the present stu study aimed to determine the difference between Benson's
muscle relaxation and mental imagery on the anxiety of hemodialysis patients.
Materials & Methods: For the purpose of this study, 96 patients under hemodialysis referring to
hospitals in Maheshahr city (Imam Hospital, Imam Musa Kazem (AS) were selected by available
sampling method. They were randomly assigned to three groups a relaxation group, an illustration group,
a control group). Before the intervention, patients completed two demographic questionnaires and Beck
Anxiety Inventory. Both intervention groups performed these techniques twice a month and twice a day.
The control group did not receive any interventions. After one month of intervention, Beck anxiety
inventory was completed by patients. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, t-test and Bonferroni post
hoc test.
Results: The mean of anxiety score before intervention was not statistically significant in the three
groups. In the two groups of imaging and Benson intervention, the reduction in the anxiety score after
the intervention was significantly higher than the control group before the intervention. However, there
was no significant difference in the reduction of anxiety score after intervention in comparison with the
previous intervention in the two groups of imagery and Benson (p = 0.263).
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Benson's muscle relaxation and mental imagery
reduced the anxiety of patients, and there was no difference in the effect of these two methods.
Therefore, it is suggested that these methods be used to control anxiety in patients undergoing
hemodialysis and other patients.