Impact of Yoga on Stress Reduction among Clinical Nurses

Abstract

Background: Nursing is perceived as a very stressful occupation. Common occupational stressors
encountered by clinical nurses include workload, role ambiguity, interpersonal relationship conflicts
and death and dying of patients. Physiological and psychological morbidity result from occupational
stress. Yogic breathing exercises have shown beneficial effects in reducing stress. Aim: To evaluate the
impact of the video-assisted intervention of yoga on stress reduction among clinical nurses working in
selected hospitals of Madhya Pradesh. Method and materials: A quasi-experimental time-series design
was adopted. The setting of the study was selected hospitals of Madhya Pradesh. 296 registered clinical
nurses were samples. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was adopted. Digital
Sphygmomanometer was used to assess blood pressure and pulse, and an observation technique was
adopted to assess respiration. Self- structured questionnaire was used to assess stress. The pre-test
stress level was evaluated on day 1 and then the CD of video-assisted intervention on yoga was
distributed to the participants and was instructed to perform anuloma and viloma pranayama daily for
20 rounds in one sitting for six months and mid-test stress level was evaluated on day 90 and post-test
stress level was evaluated on day 180. Result: After intervention, physiological parameters revealed a
significant decrease in pulse and respiration. The overall result of psychosomatic responses revealed a
significant decrease in stress level at (P<0.05) among clinical nurses. Conclusion: Yogic breathing is
a unique method for balancing the autonomic nervous system and reducing stress-related disorders
hence may be recommended as a stress management strategy among clinical nurses.