This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Benson’s relaxation technique on anxiety and depression among patients undergoing hemodialysis. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted. Searching databases included EBSCO Host, PubMed, ProQuest, Science Direct, Sage Journals, Ovid, and Google Scholar from January 2000 to September 2020. Five randomized controlled trials were identified. Findings revealed a statistically significant decrease in anxiety score. Concerning depression; one RCT showed a statistically significant decrease and two RCTs revealed a non-significant difference in depression level. The overall quality of the RCTs was not high. Despite that the RCTs showed benefits of BRT in managing anxiety. However, this is not the same for depression. The lack of high-quality scientific evidence supporting its retinue use indicates that additional well designed randomized controlled trials in multiple countries are warranted to support the efficacy of Benson’s relaxation technique on anxiety and depression among patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Benson’s relaxation affects many symptoms among hemodialysis patients. A cluster-randomized active control clinical trial with three repeated measures; pre, 1-week, and 1-month post-intervention sought to evaluate the effectiveness of Benson’s Relaxation on pain and perceived stress (P&PS) among hemodialysis patients. Two governmental hospitals were randomly assigned to intervention and control. Thirty-six participants were randomly selected; 18 were intervention, and 18 were controlled. The intervention group performed Benson’s Relaxation twice a day for 10 minutes for 8 weeks after a training session. The control group received an educational session about Progressive Relaxation. Findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in the PSS-10 and PRI scores between pre-intervention and 1 month after-intervention ( p < .001) and at 1 week after intervention and 1 month after-intervention ( p < .001). A non-statistically significant reduction between pre-intervention and 1 week after-intervention ( p > .05). Benson’s Relaxation significantly relieved P&PS among hemodialysis patients but not after only 1 week of practicing.

Introduction Intensive care unit patients and families experience significant stress. It creates frustrations, nervousness, irritability, social isolation for patients, anxiety, and depression for families. An open visitation policy with no time or duration limits may assist in reducing these negative experiences. However, most Jordanian and regional hospitals within the Middle-East and Northern Africa (MENA) have not implemented this strategy. Purpose To evaluate nurse managers' and nurses' perspectives on the effects of an open visitation policy at intensive care units (ICUs) on patients, families, and nurses' care. Method A cross-sectional, descriptive, and comparative survey design was used. Results A total of 234 nurses participated in the study; 59.4% were males, and 40.6% were females. The mean of their age was 28.6 years, with a mean of 4.1 years of experience. Nurses generally had negative perceptions and attitudes toward the open visitation policy and its consequences on the patient, family, and nursing care. Conclusions ICU managers and staff nurses did not favor implementing an open visitation in their units despite its known benefits, international recommendations, and relevance and compatibility with the local religious and cultural context. A serious discussion regarding this hesitation from the side of the healthcare professionals should be started to find a suitable solutions that consider the benefits of the open visitation policy and the challenges that prevent its implementation in the Jordanian and Arabic cultures.

Review question / Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the effectiveness of comprehensive CR programs in improving outcomes for patients who had undergone CABG. The explicit statement of the research question considered for this systematic review is formulated by using (PICOS) criteria; Population (patients who had undergone CABG), Intervention (comprehensive CR programs), Comparator (control groups), Outcome (HRQoL, stress, anxiety, depression, readmission, and the occurrence of major adverse cardiac/ cerebrovascularevents MACCE)and Study (RCTs). Condition being studied: The effectiveness of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programs in improving the outcomes for patients with coronary artery disease who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery.