OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a programme of relaxation used in primary care for patients with ischaemic cardiopathy (IC) through evaluation of the anxiety levels and the quality of life of these patients. DESIGN: Controlled intervention study without randomisation. SETTING: Two primary care teams in the city of Sabadell. PARTICIPANTS: Patients from 15 to 69 years old with IC: intervention group (IG), 57 patients; control group (CG), 47. Interventions. In the IG, conventional treatment and relaxation techniques (RT). In the CG, conventional treatment. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Degree of anxiety was measured by means of the STAI scale-questionnaire. Quality of life was measured by means of the SF-36 health questionnaire. Blood pressure and smoking were recorded. RESULTS: At 12 months, 70% of patients practised relaxation at least for a short time. In the IG, anxiety dropped significantly at 3, 6, and 12 months, especially the anxiety characteristics scale, which was still significant at 12 months (P=.002). Quality of life at 3 and 6 months in the IG showed better scores in most dimensions except body pain. At 12 months, scores continued to be better than at the start (social function P=.012), except in the mental health dimension. No significant changes were found in blood pressure or tobacco consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an RT workshop in primary care is beneficial if correctly applied and leads to improved quality of life.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a programme of relaxation used in primary care for patients with ischaemic cardiopathy (IC) through evaluation of the anxiety levels and the quality of life of these patients. DESIGN: Controlled intervention study without randomisation. SETTING: Two primary care teams in the city of Sabadell. PARTICIPANTS: Patients from 15 to 69 years old with IC: intervention group (IG), 57 patients; control group (CG), 47. Interventions. In the IG, conventional treatment and relaxation techniques (RT). In the CG, conventional treatment. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Degree of anxiety was measured by means of the STAI scale-questionnaire. Quality of life was measured by means of the SF-36 health questionnaire. Blood pressure and smoking were recorded. RESULTS: At 12 months, 70% of patients practised relaxation at least for a short time. In the IG, anxiety dropped significantly at 3, 6, and 12 months, especially the anxiety characteristics scale, which was still significant at 12 months (P=.002). Quality of life at 3 and 6 months in the IG showed better scores in most dimensions except body pain. At 12 months, scores continued to be better than at the start (social function P=.012), except in the mental health dimension. No significant changes were found in blood pressure or tobacco consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an RT workshop in primary care is beneficial if correctly applied and leads to improved quality of life.