Document Type : Original Quantitative and Qualitative Research Paper
Authors
1
MSc, Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2
Professor, Ph.D., Medical-Surgical Nursing, Research and Community Health Department, Faculty of Nursing, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3
Instructor, MSc., Dept. of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4
Nursing Expert, School of Nursing, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
5
MSc, Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
10.22038/ebcj.2024.75968.2933
Abstract
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused many adverse effects, including increased stress in patients.
Aim: The present study aimed to determine the effect of an online self-care training program on perceived stress in COVID-19 patients.
Method: This randomized control trial study was fulfilled by recruiting 132 COVID-19 patients, referred to two hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, from February 20 to August 22, 2021. These patients were selected using the convenience sampling method and were then Randomly allocated into experimental (n=63) and control (n=63) groups. The online self-care training program was presented to the experimental group in six 30-minute sessions over two weeks. The data were collected administering an individual characteristic form and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at three stages before, immediately, and one month after the intervention.
Results: The mean scores of perceived stress before, immediately, and one month after the intervention in the experimental group were respectively 30.51±6.31, 24.59±4.66, and 26.57±3.82, and they were 29.78±4.81, 29.4±4.57, and 29.11±4.73 in that order in the control group. Moreover, no significant difference was observed between both groups at the pre-intervention stage (p=0.467), while the mean scores of perceived stress in the experimental group were lower compared with those in the control group immediately (p<0.001) and one month after the intervention (p=0.001).
Implications for practice: The online self-care training program led to a reduction in perceived stress in COVID-19 patients. Thus, implementing this program may be considered as a cheap useful method to relieve perceived stress in such cases.
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