Effects of progressive muscle relaxation training on anxiety and quality of life of inpatients with ectopic pregnancy receiving methotrexate treatment

We explored the effects of progressive muscle relaxation training on anxiety and health-related quality of life of patients with ectopic pregnancy receiving methotrexate treatment. Ninety inpatients receiving this treatment were randomly assigned to a progressive muscle relaxation group (n = 45) or a control group (n = 45). The control group received standard single-dose methotrexate treatment, and the experimental group received methotrexate and additional muscle relaxation training until hospital discharge. The patients were evaluated with the state form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and SF-36 shortly after admission and before discharge from the hospital. Both covariance analysis and repeated measures ANOVA showed that muscle relaxation training can effectively improve the anxiety and health-related quality of life of patients with ectopic pregnancy receiving methotrexate treatment in an inpatient setting.