Research: CHANG and others,

Listed in Issue 105

Abstract

CHANG and others, Center for Health Quality, Outcomes, and Economic Research, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA 01730, USA, bhchang@bu.edu, have carried out a qualitative study of the relaxation response in patients with congestive heart failure.

Background

The aim of the study was to assess the effects on physical and emotional wellbeing of relaxation training on patients with congestive heart failure.

Methodology

57 veterans with congestive heart failure participated in a three-armed trial that compared relaxation response training with cardiac education and standard care. The participants were interviewed about their experiences and the interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed.

Results

10 of the 20 Relaxation Group interviewees reported physical improvements, and 13 reported emotional improvements, improvements going beyond disease management to lifestyle changes and improved relationships. Compared to this, 5 of the 16 Cardiac Education Group interviewees reported physical improvement, and 8 reported emotional improvements. These consisted of better understanding of the disease and resultant reduced anxiety. None of the Standard Care Group interviewees reported any improvements from the study participation.

Conclusion

It is thought that group support contributed to the improvements seen in the Cardiac Education and Relaxation groups, but clearly relaxation response training produces improvements over and above this. The study underpins the value of relaxation training in cardiac health care.

References

Chang BH, Jones D, Hendricks A, Boehmer U, Locastro JS, Slawsky M. Relaxation response for Veterans Affairs patients with congestive heart failure: results from a qualitative study within a clinical trial. Preventive Cardiology 7 (2): 64-70, Spring 2004.

Comment

The improvements seen with relaxation for heart failure over that seen with cardiac education and standard care may be an important result; however the research needs to be replicated with larger cohorts.

ICAN 2024 Skyscraper

Scientific and Medical Network 2

Cycle Around the World for Charity 2023

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro Charity 2023

top of the page