The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy intervention program for reducing anxiety and depression among practical nurses in a hospital, Chonburi Province
Abstract:
This quasi-experimental study with one-group design assessed the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms among 32 practical nurses (PN) at a hospital in Chonburi province. Data was collected over one-month period in March 2024, using a personal information survey, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and a cognitive behavioral intervention protocol. Descriptive and inferential data analysis used the Paired T-test to evaluate changes in anxiety and depressive states, with a significance level at 0.05. The results showed that the majority of the participants were female (96.9%), with an average age of 36.50 years (SD = 11.28) and an average work experience of 11.78 years (SD = 11.67). Among the participants, 84.38% had depressive symptoms with an average score of 2.47 (SD = 0.98), and 80% had anxiety symptoms with an average score of 2.50 (SD = 1.08). Comparisons of the mean levels of depression before and after the program in the second and fourth weeks revealed a statistically significant reduction in depression levels (p < 0.001 for both weeks). Similarly, comparisons of the mean levels of anxiety before and after the program in the second and fourth weeks showed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety levels (p < 0.001 for both weeks). Therefore, this study concludes that the CBT program effectively reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety.