NURSING CARE WITH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BENSON RELAXATION THERAPY ON ANXIETY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION IN PANCURAN GADING VILLAGE, TAPUNG DISTRICT, KAMPAR REGENCY

Abstract

 

Hypertension is a degenerative disease commonly experienced by the elderly and often causes anxiety due to physiological changes in the body and concerns about possible complications. Uncontrolled anxiety can worsen blood pressure conditions. One effective non-pharmacological intervention to reduce anxiety is Benson’s relaxation therapy, which combines deep breathing techniques and spiritual elements to produce a relaxation response in the body. This study aims to explain the effectiveness of Benson’s relaxation therapy in reducing anxiety levels among elderly patients with hypertension in Pancuran Gading Village, Tapung District, Kampar Regency. The method used was an Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN) approach with a descriptive design through pre-test and post-test stages, where the intervention was carried out for five consecutive days with a duration of 10–20 minutes per session. Data were collected using the GAD-7 observation sheet to assess anxiety levels before and after the intervention. The results showed that after receiving Benson’s relaxation therapy, there was a decrease in anxiety levels among elderly patients with hypertension, indicated by lower GAD-7 scores compared to before the intervention. The elderly also reported feeling calmer, sleeping better, and experiencing reduced physical complaints such as headaches. Therefore, Benson’s relaxation therapy proved effective as a non-pharmacological nursing intervention to reduce anxiety in elderly patients with hypertension and can serve as a supportive alternative in family nursing management to improve the quality of life among the elderly.