J Nurs Acad Soc.  1992 Dec;22(4):526-551.

Effects Nursing Interventions on Anxiety and / or Stress : A Meta - Analysis

• Lee EO
• Song HH
• Lee BS
• Kim JH
• Lee EH
• Lee EJ
• Park CS
• Chun GJ
• Jung MS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the commonalities of various nursing interventions and effective intervention methods in each intervention through analysis and synthesis of many accumulated research papers. The study analyzed the effects of various nursing interventions on anxiety and/or stress. For this purpose, 64 experimental studies with randomized or nonequivalent control group pre-test-posttest design were selected were selected from journals of medical and nursing schools, the Korean Nurse, the Korean Nurses' Academic Society Journal, the Central Journal of Medicine, the New Medical Journal, the Nurse Monthly, and from theses and dissertations conducted from 1970 to 1991. The selected studies were classified according to three characteristics : 1) the research sample, 2) types and methods of nursing interventions, and 3) statistical tests. The following analysis was done : 1) Confirmation of the accuracy of data drawn from each study by paired review, 2) Estimation of the homogenity of pre-test scores of the dependent variable between control and experimental groups warranted the effect size of post-scores, 3) If the homogenity of pre-test scores did not warrant, the change scores from pre-test to post-test were used to estimate the effect size, 4) Use of the effect size of each study among homogenious studies was tested for each intervention method, such as relaxation, information, and touch and/or support. Finally, for the studies not showing homogenity, and ANOVA test was used to identify patterns for each intervention. Some findings are summarized as follow: The effect sizes for relaxation and information were greater than those for touch and / or supportive technique. Studies using random assignment had greater effect sizes than nonrandomized sample studies using the same intervention. For healthy people, group education was more effective than individual teaching. However, for patients, relaxation and touch and / or supportive techniques given on individual basis were more effective than when given in a group situation. Measuring anxiety and stress by biological indicators was less effective than by self-report. Budzynski's relaxation method was the most effective. The more frequently the techniques applied, the larger the effect size. On the bases of these findings, the following recommendations were made : 1. A combination of information, relaxation, and touch-supportive techniques should be sued for greater effect in reducing the level of anxiety and / or stress. 2. Information is the first choice of intervention to reduce the level of anxiety and/or stress of health people ; other intervention may be added depending on the conditions of the subjects.

MeSH Terms

Anxiety*
Education
Humans
Nursing*
Relaxation
Schools, Nursing