The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety and blood pressure among hypertension patients in east Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Hypertension remains a major problem in the health sector and affects both physical and psychological. Hypertension is a chronic disease that may lead to other serious illnesses and anxiety if it is treated improperly. One of the non-pharmacological treatment for lowering blood pressure and anxiety is by relaxation technique, specifically with progressive muscle relaxation technique (PMR). It is to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety and blood pressure among hypertension patients in A.W. Sjahranie General Hospital, East Kalimantan. This study was conducted using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The sampling technique used was the simple random sampling technique. This study involved 91 respondents in A.W. Sjahranie General Hospital, East Kalimantan. They were divided into two groups. The respondents of 71 people were in the intervention group health education and PMR, they exercised 2 times a week for 8 weeks and 20 respondents in the control group were given health education. The research instruments used were questionnaires and blood pressure observation sheets. Measurement of blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and anxiety was carried out on the fourth week and eighth week. This study used the Paired t-test and Pearson Correlation Test as the data analysis technique. These findings showed that there was a significant difference before and after the fourth and eighth weeks of intervention on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and anxiety (p = 0.000). The results showed significant differences between the intervention group and the control group in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001) and diastolic (p = 0.000), anxiety (p = 0.000). Intervention PMR provides the most powerful influence on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and anxiety (p = 0.000). This study recommends the need for PMR exercises for 8 weeks to control blood pressure and anxiety in patients with primary hypertension, and for the hospital, it was suggested to develop PMR as a part of independent nursing practices.