Background: Cesarean section (CS) as a delivery method is commonly used in Iran and other countries. Many women experience anxiety before CS. This study aimed to determine the effects of the Benson relaxation on the anxiety and hemodynamic parameters of women before CS.Methods: A two-group clinical trial was conducted with a study population consisted of ۱۰۸ women waiting for CS in educational hospitals in Shahroud City, Iran. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups of control and intervention each with ۳۱ participants. After receiving a face-to-face relaxation method by the researcher, the intervention group listened to a relaxation training audio file three to five hours before CS and exercised Benson muscle relaxation at least three times. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics questionnaire, Standard Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale, and
Hemodynamic Parameters questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS v۲۳ using descriptive and inferential tests.Results: The results showed that the mean and standard deviation of the anxiety score in the intervention group before the intervention was ۱۰±۲.۴۳, which was significantly higher than that after the intervention (۶.۸۶ ± ۱.۴۵). On the other hand, the mean and standard deviation of the anxiety score in the control group before the intervention was ۱۰±۳.۰۸ and increased to ۱۰.۱۹ ±۳.۱۹ after the intervention. There was also a significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of the mean and standard deviation of the hemodynamic parameters scores, including systolic blood pressure index (p =۰.۰۲۱), diastolic blood pressure index (p = ۰.۰۱۰), respiratory index (p= ۰.۰۳۷), and heart rate index (p= ۰.۰۴۲) after the intervention.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, Benson muscle relaxation significantly reduced the anxiety and hemodynamic parameters scores in the intervention group. Given that this method is uncomplicated, non-pharmacological, and inexpensive, it can be useful for pregnant women in the stressful conditions before CS.Background: Cesarean section (CS) as a delivery method is commonly used in Iran and other countries. Many women experience anxiety before CS. This study aimed to determine the effects of the Benson relaxation on the anxiety and hemodynamic parameters of women before CS. Methods: A two-group clinical trial was conducted with a study population consisted of ۱۰۸ women waiting for CS in educational hospitals in Shahroud City, Iran. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups of control and intervention each with ۳۱ participants. After receiving a face-to-face relaxation method by the researcher, the intervention group listened to a relaxation training audio file three to five hours before CS and exercised Benson muscle relaxation at least three times. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics questionnaire, Standard Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale, and
Hemodynamic Parameters questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS v۲۳ using descriptive and inferential tests. Results: The results showed that the mean and standard deviation of the anxiety score in the intervention group before the intervention was ۱۰±۲.۴۳, which was significantly higher than that after the intervention (۶.۸۶ ± ۱.۴۵). On the other hand, the mean and standard deviation of the anxiety score in the control group before the intervention was ۱۰±۳.۰۸ and increased to ۱۰.۱۹ ±۳.۱۹ after the intervention. There was also a significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of the mean and standard deviation of the hemodynamic parameters scores, including systolic blood pressure index (p =۰.۰۲۱), diastolic blood pressure index (p = ۰.۰۱۰), respiratory index (p= ۰.۰۳۷), and heart rate index (p= ۰.۰۴۲) after the intervention. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, Benson muscle relaxation significantly reduced the anxiety and hemodynamic parameters scores in the intervention group. Given that this method is uncomplicated, non-pharmacological, and inexpensive, it can be useful for pregnant women in the stressful conditions before CS.
