Effect of Psychological Education Combined with Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training on the Symptom Cluster and Rehospitalization Rate of Elderly Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of psychological education combined with progressive muscle relaxation training on the symptom cluster and rehospitalization of elderly patients with coronary heart disease. Methods: This study is a longitudinal randomized controlled study involving 140 elderly patients with coronary heart disease. The patients were divided into two groups: an intervention group and a control group, with 70 cases in each group, via random number table. The patients in the control group received routine nursing, whereas those in the intervention group received psychological education combined with progressive muscle relaxation training for 4 weeks on the basis of routine nursing. The effect of the intervention was evaluated before intervention, at the end of 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after intervention. Results: At the end of 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, the sleep, fatigue, anxiety, and functional status of the patients in the intervention group were significantly better than those of the control group, with statistical significance difference (P < 0. 05). The rehospitalization rate of the intervention group was lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (X² = 10.685, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Psychological education combined with progressive muscle relaxation training is effective in alleviating the symptom cluster of elderly patients with coronary heart disease and reducing their rehospitalization rate; thus, it should be popularized.