Effects of Blinking Exercise Application on Anxiety and Eye Dryness among Elderly Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Gerontological Nursing, College of Nursing Misr University for science and technology

2 Assistant professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Beni Suef University

3 Assistant Professor of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University

4 Pediatric Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University, Egypt

5 Assistant professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Beni-Suef University, Egypt

6 Lecturer of Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University

Abstract

Background: Eye dryness is a common health problem among older adults which negatively impacts their quality of life. Anxiety is an important risk factor for dry eye disease. So, this study aimed to determine the effects of blinking exercises application on anxiety and eye dryness among elderly patients. Aim: To determine the effects of blinking exercises application on anxiety and eye dryness among elderly patients. Design: A quasi-experimental research design (Pre/post-test) to achieve the aim of this study was used. Setting: The study was conducted in ophthalmology outpatient clinics at Sohag University Hospital, Egypt. Sample: A convenient sample of 100 elderly patients who complained of dry eye was selected from the previously selected setting within six months. Methods: Three tools were used: (I) A structured interview questionnaire sheet involving personal and medical profiles, (II) a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and (III) an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Results: The current study revealed that there was a highly statistically significant difference and reductions in anxiety mean scores pre and post-blinking exercises application with a high statistical significance difference P value (P= <0.001). It was found that the severity of eye dryness improved after blinking exercises application with a high statistical significance difference P value < 0.001. Conclusion: Blinking exercises application had significant positive effects on decreasing anxiety mean scores and eye dryness among elderly patients. Recommendation: Health education and training should be provided regularly regarding eye blinking exercises in different healthcare settings for patients with the availability of related posters, brochures, and handouts given to them. It is important to apply Blinking exercises application as a complementary treatment for elderly patients to reduce anxiety and eye dryness among elderly patients.

Keywords

Egyptian Journal of Health Care
Volume 15, Issue 2
June 2024
Pages 1642-1653

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