Objective: To quantitatively compare different types of relaxation therapy, including progressive relaxation, relaxation response and differences in the duration of relaxation therapy among Koreans in Korea. Design: Meta-analysis. First is the problem statement, followed by identification and collection of all available sources of potentially relevant data, then an evaluation of each report, and finally, the interpretation of the summary of statistical analysis (Bailar, 1999). Population, Sample, Setting, Years: A systematic search for published full reports of quasi-experimental studies published between 1980 and 1994 in Korean was conducted. In Korea major data sources are theses, dissertation, and institutional journals. Therefore, an atypical literature search was conducted including the index of theses and dissertation of the National Assembly of Universities, National University Library Home Page, and the Index of Nursing Master Theses and Doctoral Dissertation (Kou, et al., 1996). Professional nursing networking and contacts with all nursing institutions were the most valuable sources to obtain data. Main outcomes measures were: 1) anxiety measured by Spielberg Anxiety scale, 2) blood pressure, and 3) pulse rate. Method (Data analysis): We estimated effect size and standard error of each outcome variables in each study. For each outcome variable that was studied, we determined whether the results were positive (indicating that relaxation therapy resulted in a better outcome) or negative (indicating that relaxation therapy resulted in an equal or worse outcome) at the conventional level of statistical significance (p <.05). Effect size was calculated with the formula, M (control) - M (treatment) / SD (pooled), as described by Song (1998). Findings: Among 14 studies, three used Jacobson's progressive relaxation therapy, five used modified Jacobson's progressive relaxation, two used Benson's relaxation method , two used Goldfired and Division's Letting go relaxation method and two used Budzynski' relaxation method. Relaxation training was administered in 2 to 21 treatment sessions. The effect size of state anxiety was a minimum of 0.133 to a maximum of 2.29 and its mean effect size was d=0.89(SE=0.078). The mean effect size of systolic BP was d=0.72 (SE=0.10) and diastolic BP was d=0.80 (SE=0.11). The Jacobson relaxation group showed significantly less reduction in the anxiety state (X2=7.1, p <.01) but significantly greater reduction in both systolic BP (X2=7.4, p<0.01) and diastolic BP (X2=13.37, p<.0.001). The duration of the therapy (60 minutes is cutting point) had no effect on state of anxiety but the group who received therapy for more than 60 minutes significantly decreased their systolic pressure (d=0.28 vs. d=1.0) and diastolic pressure (d=0.40 vs. d=1.11). Conclusion and Implication: Our findings indicate that relaxation therapy has significant positive effects on both state anxiety and blood pressure regardless the types of relaxation therapies. Jacobson relaxation therapy is more effective on physiological responses of blood pressure control but is less effective on state anxiety compared with other relaxation therapies. However, given the small number of the studies in this meta-analysis, it would be premature to draw conclusions regarding what types of therapies are more effective. The data suggest, however, that more than 60 minutes of therapy can enhance relaxation effects on anxiety and BP.
|
Research Data
|
| Ending
Year:
|
|
| Design:
|
|
| Study
Type:
|
|
| Theoretical
Framework:
|
|
| Description
of Sample:
|
|
| Sample
Size:
|
|
| Number
of Groups:
|
|
| Sampling
Plan:
|
|
| Gender:
|
|
| Minimum
Age:
|
|
| Maximum
Age:
|
|
| Data
Collection Settings(s):
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Primary Investigator
Hee-Seung Kim
|
|
P.I. Institution Name
Catholic University
Title
Contact Address
School of Nursing, San 43-1 Yokkok, 2-Dong Wonmi-Gu
Puchon City, 420-743
Korea
Contact E-mail
hees1014@hanmail.net
Contact Telephone
82.32.3403.114
|
Secondary Investigators
Yeom, Hye-A
Kim, Nam-Cho
Yoo, Yang-Suk
|
|
|