Effects of benson relaxation technique applied with music on fatigue, pruritus, anxiety and depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis

The aim of this randomized controlled study was to examine the effect of Benson relaxation tehcnique combined with music on fatigue, itching severity and anxiety-depression levels of patients undergoing hemodialysis. The study was carried out with 61 hemodialysis patients followed in hemodialysis unit of Health Sciences University Ankara Training and Research Hospital and Siteler Dialysis Center, between 1 May 2019 and 1 October 2019. The patients who met inclusion criteria were assigned to either an intervention or a control group through simple randomisation with a ratio of 1:1 by the thesis advisor. Patients in the intervention group (n=30) received twice a week, 20 min. Benson relaxation tehcnique combined with music for a total of eight weeks, while patients in the control group (n=31) were given only 15 min. single time face-to-face training on hemodialysis at the beginning of the study. The Personal Information Form for sociodemographic characteristics, Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS) for fatigue, 5-D Itching Scale for itching, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety, and depression were used for data collection. The PFS, 5-D Itching Scale, and HADS were administered face-to-face to patients in both the intervention and the control groups at the beginning of the study, and at weeks 4, 8, and 10. All subdimension scores of PFS in the intervention group significantly lower at weeks 4, 8, and 10 (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in 5-D Ithcing Scale scores between the intervention and the control group at weeks 4, 8, and 10 (p>0.05). As for anxiety subdimension scores of HADS, the intervention group had significantly lower anxiety level compared with the control group at week 10 (p<0.05). Similarly, depression subdimension scores were significantly lower in the intervention group at weeks 8, and 10 compared with the control group (p<0.05). Based on the study findings, Benson relaxation tehcnique combined with music is effective in decreasing fatigue, anxiety, and depression level, however could not provide significant effect on itching severity. Therefore, the use of this method may be recommended for alleviating fatigue, anxiety, and depression symptoms frequently observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis.