COVID-19 pandemic: study on simple, easy, and practical relaxation techniques while wearing medical protective equipment

Abstract

Background No studies have reported on how to relieve distress or relax in medical health workers while wearing medical protective equipment in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aimed to establish which relaxation technique, among six, is the most feasible in first-line medical health workers wearing medical protective equipment. Methods This was a two-step study collecting data with online surveys. Step 1: 15 first-line medical health workers were trained to use six different relaxation techniques and reported the two most feasible techniques while wearing medical protective equipment. Step 2: the most two feasible relaxation techniques revealed by step 1 were quantitatively tested in a sample of 65 medical health workers in terms of efficacy, no space limitation, no time limitation, no body position requirement, no environment limitation to be done, easiness to learn, simplicity, convenience, practicality, and acceptance. Results Kegel exercise and autogenic relaxation were the most feasible techniques according to step 1. In step 2, Kegel exercise outperformed autogenic relaxation on all the 10 dimensions among the 65 participants while wearing medical protective equipment (efficacy: 24 v. 15, no space limitation: 30 v. 4, no time limitation: 31 v. 4, no body position requirement: 26 v. 4, no environment limitation: 30 v. 11, easiness to learn: 28 v. 5, simplicity: 29 v. 7, convenience: 29 v. 4, practicality: 30 v. 14, acceptance: 32 v. 6). Conclusion Kegel exercise seems a promising self-relaxation technique for first-line medical health workers while wearing medical protective equipment among COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of COVID‐19 outbreak on Italian healthcare workers versus general population: Results from an online survey

“…In brief, loneliness and fatigue seem to be the only variables which can be modulated to ameliorate healthcare workers' quality of life. Unfortunately, while some proposal aimed at facilitating healthcare workers' relaxation have been made (Zhang, Li et al, 2020 ), no attention has been devoted to strategies able to manage fatigue and loneliness. The psychosomatic approach, which gives rooms to psychological as well as social factors that can influence positively or negatively the individual's overall health, seems to be an ideal frame (Cosci & Guidi, 2021 ) for helping healthcare workers in the era of COVID‐19.…”

Effects Of Progressive Muscle Relaxation On Anxiety Of Nurses At Covid-19 Units

“…As a result, most of them reported 50% depressive symptoms, anxiety 45%, insomnia 34%, and psychological distress 71.5% (Lai et al, 2020). Besides, the availability of personal protective equipment has an effect of 51.7% on the anxiety of health workers (Zhang et al, 2020).…”

“…In line with the priorities of the WHO, one of five priority of the meeting result from The Asia Pacific Disaster Mental Health Network is optimizing emerging technologies in mental health care (Newnham et al, 2020).Based on the qualitative interviews, 14 of 17 experts agreed that progressive muscle relaxation 'easily learning. The most priority is the relaxation techniques easily reading directions on' (Zhang et al, 2020).…”

“…During the Covid-19 pandemic, health workers felt depressed and worried so that anxiety increased in carrying out their duties due to the availability of personal protective equipment (Zhang et al, 2020).Previous studies have reported that the psychological disorders experienced by health workers during the Covid-19 pandemic were mostly caused by fear of transmission and infection in family, friends, colleagues, and the presence of negative stigma from the community (Handayani et al, 2020). Besides, being close to people infected with COVID-19 was related to anxiety (Marashi et al, 2020;Shayganfard et al, 2021) (Shayganfard et al, 2021).…”

COVID-19, masks and communication in the operating theatre: the importance of face value

“…We write in response to the study by Zhang et al (2020) 'COVID-19 pandemic: study on simple, easy, and practical relaxation techniques while wearing medical protective equipment'. The study team has actively investigated potential anxiety-relieving techniques that healthcare professionals can utilise while working and this is commendable.…”