[Effects of progressive muscular relaxation training on anxiety level and health related quality of life in anxious patients after coronary artery bypass surgery]

There is a lack of clinical trials studying the effects of relaxation techniques as a basis of stress management on anxiety and quality of life in anxious patients after heart surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of progressive muscular relaxation training on reducing anxiety and improving quality of life among patients with high levels of anxiety after coronary artery bypass graft surgery [CABG]. A randomized controlled trial with a prospective pretest-posttest experimental design was used. One hundred ten patients with threatening anxiety level, 6 weeks after coronary artery bypass surgery were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received progressive muscular relaxation [PMR] training, and the control group received only routine cardiac rehabilitation care. State/trait anxiety was measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and quality of life was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire. There were significant reductions in state anxiety] P=0.001] and trait anxiety[P=0.001] in the experimental group when compared with the controls after the intervention. Significant improvements were found in the following quality of life measures after participating in progressive muscular relaxation training: physical functioning[P=0.00001], role-physical [P=0.03], bodily pain[P=0.00001], general health[P=0.00001], vitality[P=0.00001], social functioning[P=0.001], role-emotional [P=0.00001] and mental health[P=0.00001]. Teaching relaxation techniques could serve as a resource for improving heart patients' psychological health and quality of life

[Comparison of measured spirometric values of nonsmoker healthy adults in Sari city with some standard predicted equations]

Spirometry is a powerful method in assessment and management of many respiratory disorders. Technological improvement has made it a reliable, relatively simple and available method in clinical settings. Native spirometric standard values are necessary for the interpretation of pulmonary function test. In this study, important spirometric values [FVC,FEV1, FEV1/ FVC,FEF25-75] of healthy adults > 18 years old in Sari city were compared with those of predicted standard equations to determine the nearest values. Five hundred and seven healthy adults [245 males, 262 females] selected by random sampling, with no previous history of smoking and without chronic or acute respiratory problems were subjected to spirometry with calibrated Fukudo Sangyo spirometer. The methodological guidelines of the American Thorasic Society were observed to perform spirometry. The results were analyzed by SPSS, paired t- test and Pearson correlation. The results indicated that the mean values of males are more than those of females. The highest values are from the 20-30 years age group.The correlation coefficient of height with the measured values is very high [99% confidence interval] but for the weight is low. The nearest standard predicted values to the measured values were from Eccs. According to the results and correlation coefficient test, measured values have the highest correlation with Eccs predicted values with 99% confidence interval and the Eccs standard seems to be the most proper standard for Sari community, more researches are recommended though