The effect of Benson's relaxation technique on the quality of sleep of Iranian hemodialysis patients: a randomized trial

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of Benson's relaxation technique in the quality of sleep of hemodialysis patients.

Design: It was a randomized controlled trial with a pre-post-test design. A total of 86 hemodialysis patients referring to hemodialysis units were assigned to either the intervention (receiving Benson's relaxation technique) or the control group (routine care) through block randomization.

Setting: The study was performed in two hemodialysis units affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Intervention: The patients in the intervention group listened to the audiotape of Benson's relaxation technique twice a day each time for twenty minutes for eight weeks.

Main outcome measures: The global score of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) as well as its components was computed in both the intervention and the control group before and at the 8th week of the intervention.

Results: The results of ANCOVA indicated significant differences between the two groups regarding the scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index subscales, such as sleep disturbance, daytime dysfunction, the use of sleep medication, and subjective sleep quality and as well as its global scores at the 8th week of the intervention (p<0.05).

Conclusions: This study highlighted the importance of Benson's relaxation technique in improvement of the sleep quality of the patients on hemodialysis. Thus, educational sessions are recommended to be planned on this cost effective and easy to use relaxation technique in order to improve hemodialysis patients' sleep quality. Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of this technique in other groups of patients.

Keywords: Hemodialysis; Insomnia; Relaxation therapy; Sleep.