The Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises on COVID-19-Related Fear, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality in Emergency Aid Station Employees.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of progressive relaxation exercises on emergency aid station employees' COVID-19-related fear, anxiety, and sleep quality levels. This study was conducted as a randomized, controlled, and experimental design and included 30 emergency aid station employees (emergency medical technicians and paramedics). The descriptive information form, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Test, COVID-19 Fear Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used for data collection. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of their scale scores before the intervention ( P > .05). After the intervention, there was a significant difference between the groups only in the sleep duration dimension of the PSQI. In the intervention group, on the other hand, there were significant differences in the anxiety, economic dimension of the Fear scale and the total sleep quality, and subjective sleep quality, sleep latency and daytime dysfunction dimensions after the intervention ( P < .05). In this study, in comparison to the control group, the intervention group lowered their anxiety and fear levels and improved their sleep quality at the end of the 5 days. It was determined that anxiety and fear had a 35% cumulative effect on sleep quality ( P > .05). According to the results of this study, progressive muscle relaxation exercises had a positive effect in improving the sleep quality and reducing the anxiety and fear levels of the emergency aid station employees.