Impact of Epilepsy-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises on Epileptic Seizure Frequency, Sleep Quality, and Stress Severity among Children

Elsaeed Hashad, Reham; Elsayed Hafez Elsayed, Zeinab; Gamal Awad Hamed, Samia; EL Nabawy Ahmed, Gehan

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2020.322997

Impact of Epilepsy-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises on Epileptic Seizure Frequency, Sleep Quality, and Stress Severity among Children

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University

² Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University

³ Lecturer of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University

⁴ Assistant Professor of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University

10.21608/ejhc.2020.322997

Abstract

Background: Education for children with epilepsy is viewed as a therapeutic consequence for people who suffer from the condition as well it is a crucial component of high-quality therapy. Patients with epilepsy must follow a variety of self-management practices in order to manage their condition. Aim: The study was carried out to determine the impact of epilepsy-based progressive muscle relaxation exercises on epileptic seizure frequency, sleep quality, and stress severity among children. Subjects and method: Pre-test and post-test interventions were used in a controlled, blinded, randomized study with a control group. The research was conducted in Mansoura city, Egypt, at the neurological pediatrics divisions of the Mansoura University Children's Hospital (MUCH). For the study, a purposive sample of 80 children with epilepsy (40 for the study group and 40 for the control group) were included. All were gathered during a 6-month period. Tools: Five tools were used to get the data, including: Tool 1: Interview questionnaire for children (pre, post), Tool II: The GASE Scale (a global assessment of epilepsy severity- pre/post). (2 parts), Tool II: The GASE Scale (a global assessment of epilepsy severity) (pre/post), Tool (III): Jacobson's progressive muscles relaxation technique, Tool V: The Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), Tool IV: The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (pre/post). Results: After application of the progressive relaxation exercises; small percentage of the study group had daily epileptic attack, poor sleep quality and high stress level compared to the control group. Conclusion: Progressive relaxation exercises had a good impact on children with epilepsy, As shown by a decrease in epilepsy' severity, frequency, stress level as well as an increase in sleep quality of the evaluated children post implementation of the Progressive relaxation exercises among the study group. Recommendation: To reduce seizure events among children with epilepsy, progressive relaxation techniques should be incorporated into routine nursing care.

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