The Effect of Relaxation Techniques on Selected Psychological Indicators among Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Patients undergoing hemodialysis experience elevated levels of anxiety, stress, and depression due to the chronic nature of the disease and the continuous demands of treatment, which necessitates exploring non-pharmacological interventions that may contribute to improving their psychological well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of applying relaxation techniques on certain psychological indicators among hemodialysis patients, using a quasi-experimental design with two groups (experimental and control).

The sample consisted of 80 patients, with 40 patients in each group. The experimental group underwent a structured relaxation techniques program during hemodialysis sessions, which included deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mental repetition of a calming phrase, positive imagery, and mindfulness, for approximately 20 minutes per session under the supervision of the researcher.

The program was implemented during the period from 1/8/2025 to 1/12/2025 over four hemodialysis sessions. Data were collected before the first session and after the last session using the Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and were statistically analyzed using the Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney tests.

The results showed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and stress levels among participants in the experimental group compared with the control group (p ≤ 0.001), whereas no statistically significant differences were observed in depression scores (p > 0.05).

The study concluded that relaxation techniques constitute an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving certain psychological indicators among hemodialysis patients. The study recommends integrating relaxation techniques into nursing care programs provided for hemodialysis patients and conducting further studies to evaluate their long-term effects.