["The Use and Control of Stress". A program applied to workers of the IMSS. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social].

Stress, is considered to be a bodily response to both internal and environmental stimuli, is a live and unavoidable energy. It is important and necessary to learn to use it beneficially. In order to determine the utility of the educational program. "The use use and control of stress", a quasi-experimental study was conducted in 1993, in which 39 voluntary Zone I General Hospital (IMSS Tlaxcala State Delegation) workers were selected, based on stress levels over 3 points as found in an institutional validated to measure the stress level. Five groups were set up, and eight weekly educative interventions, composed of cognitive contents including stress, relaxation techniques, and techniques for living of 90 minutes each were attended by the members of these groups, utilizing groups dynamics. The results were analyzed in simple absolute and relative frequencies, as well as by Student's t tests. They show a reduction stress levels in 94.8% of the participants, which represents a 69.1% general gain, with p = < 0.005. The conclusion is that learning related with the use and control of stress is an alternative to improve the mental health of the individual and as concerns the work environment, to modify attitude of the IMSS worker.