Effect of Benson relaxation technique on the preoperative anxiety and hemodynamic status: A single blind randomized clinical trial

•Benson relaxation technique can improve cardiopulmonary symptoms.•This technique may reduce the hospital anxiety in patients undergoing surgical procedures.•Benson's relaxation technique is a safe method with no adverse effects.

BackgroundPreoperative anxiety is a challenge in most surgical interventions that needs to be taken into consideration. This trial assessed the effect of relation technique on the anxiety and hemodynamic response in patients undergoing surgical procedures.MethodsThis single blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients who were candidates for coronary artery bypass graft, coronary angiography, percutaneous intervention, or general surgery at Ekbatan and Besat Hospitals, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, from March to August 2014. Patients were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received Benson's relaxation technique, a half an hour before surgical procedures. The preoperative anxiety and hemodynamic status (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate) were evaluated before and after intervention.ResultsOf 166 patients identified, 144 patients enrolled into the study. No patient declined follow-up. The baseline clinical characteristics of the patients in the intervention and control groups were nearly the same. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, the average number of heart rates and respiratory rates declined significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The mean score of hospital anxiety was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.001). The intervention was effective in both males and female patients.ConclusionThis trial indicated that Benson's relaxation technique is a safe method with no adverse effects with significant beneficial effect on preoperative anxiety and hemodynamic responses in patients who were candidates for surgical procedures.Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials registration number: IRCT201312249014N19. http://www.irct.ir/searchresult.php?id=9014&number=19.