The Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Sleep Quality of Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Sleep disorder is common among patients with renal disease in its last phase. Progressive muscle relaxation is a method which has been designed to reduce tension and anxiety. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on sleep quality of patients undergoing hemodialysis. This is a quasi-experimental study with one-group, before and after design. Using purposive sampling method, 39 patients were selected. These patients were being treated with maintenance hemodialysis in hospitals affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2010. Sleep quality of samples was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Progressive muscle relaxation was trained to patients in three sessions. They were also asked to do relaxation practice for a month, twice a day (once during the day and once before going to bed at night), and fill in the relaxation form after each practice. Afterwards, sleep quality of patients before and after relaxation were compared. To analyze the statistical data, paired t-test and wilcoxon test were used. The mean of samples’ sleep quality total score after relaxation was significantly lower than before relaxation (p<0.001). The score of each sleep quality dimension (except for use of sleep medications) were significantly lower than before relaxation. According to the results of this study, progressive muscle relaxation has a favorable impact on sleep quality in patients undergoing hemodialysis and can be applied and trained as a useful method to improve sleep quality of patients in hemodialysis wards.