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Nurs702 Critique Final
Nurs702 Critique Final
Biofeedback Intervention for Stress and Anxiety Among Nursing Students: A Critique
Demetria Booker, Patricia Donegan, Amanda Fite, Kelly Gunn, Natalie Noday, & Mirna Rascon
Walsh University
The Problem
The proposed problem is “anxiety and stress in nursing students leads to more difficulty
in successfully completing clinical training”. Stress and anxiety among nursing students is a
common problem; these students have additional vulnerability to stress as well as a higher level
of stress when compared to non-nursing students. Managing stress and anxiety triggers via a
biofeedback mechanism will allow nursing students to be more successful in their clinical
training, and this in turn will lead to more productive and contributing members of the nursing
profession. Additionally, finding a solution to the management of stress and anxiety among
nursing students has clinical applicability because this has a longitudinal and long-lasting impact
The conceptual framework for this study began with the idea that nursing students
experience stress and anxiety throughout their programs; specifically, second-year nursing
students encountered additional stress during their first clinical training experience. The research
techniques proposed followed the map outlined by the conceptual framework. Sixty individuals
that fit the criteria were randomly assigned to the non-intervention (control) group or the
intervention (biofeedback) group. The control group would continue with their clinicals without
training in biofeedback mechanisms, and the biofeedback group would be trained in the use of a
biofeedback device and technique. This study utilized a heart rate variability measurement
device called an emWave PSR. The device helped the biofeedback group recognize their
BIOFEEDBACK INTERVENTIONS FOR NURSING STUDENTS 3
involuntary heart rate variability and become aware of moments of stress and anxiety. With the
feedback obtained from the emWave PSR, the students were able to utilize techniques to
decrease their response to the stressor. The researchers believed this would increase the students’
Research Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that if nursing students can better manage their stress and anxiety, they
will be more successful in their clinical training (Ratanasiripong, Ratanasiripong, & Kathalae,
2012). According to Hulley et al. (2007), a good research question can be assessed by utilizing
the FINER criteria. This assesses if a research question is feasible, interesting, novel, ethical and
relevant. The feasibility of this study has positives and negatives. One negative is that the size of
this study could have been larger. One positive included the size of the device, as the emWave
PSR was manageable for the students during their clinical experience. The price for emWave
devices ranged from $100 to $300, which depending on the number of subjects chosen, would be
This study has the potential to positively impact the future of nursing, which makes it
relevant and of great interest to a large population from throughout the entirety of the profession.
Participants in the study were all volunteers and comprised of adult students at the college. Each
The predication that nursing students will thrive and become contributing members of the
profession with the use of stress and anxiety management has an agreeable outcome. The
biofeedback and control groups began with similar pre-scale scores on their Perceived Stress
Scale and State Anxiety Scale. After the five-week study, the control group showed an increase
BIOFEEDBACK INTERVENTIONS FOR NURSING STUDENTS 4
in their Perceived Stress Scale. Regarding anxiety, the biofeedback group had a significant
decrease on their State Anxiety Scale while the control group recorded a moderate increase.
A Review of Literature
As previously mentioned, this study reports a logical investigation of the impact of the
emWave PSR and its’ effectiveness on reducing stress and anxiety. The intervention that was
training program for individuals to become competent with using the device’s equipment. The
purpose was implemented to specifically examine the impact this early mechanism had on the
levels of stress and anxiety of second-year baccalaureate nursing students as they began their
first clinical experience at a public school in Thailand. The training program was specific and in-
depth, creating a positive connection with the students and their emotions. Furthermore, the
results demonstrate that this intervention tool was relevant to the problem and, “not only kept the
nursing students’ stress levels from increasing, but also significantly reduced their levels of
anxiety” (Ratanasiripong et al., 2012, p. 3). Therefore, as the theory stems from the foundation of
the research problem, it is evident to correlate the relationship to the research purpose, as it was
When reviewing the literature, it includes research that was dated back to 1983. Although
the study was originally performed in 2012, there is research from twenty-nine years ago
incorporated in the findings of the literature, along with research from the latest year of 2011.
Unfortunately, there is no flagship research that was performed. Based on the review, a case for
conducting this study can be made to contribute to the psychological perspective of the nursing
profession as a whole. The literature and sources represent that there have been multiple studies
BIOFEEDBACK INTERVENTIONS FOR NURSING STUDENTS 5
over the past decade performed to help aid in the management of stress and anxiety in nursing
students. Therefore, this study supports the trial of a new generation of portable biofeedback
equipment. In addition, this method is cost-effective, which can help implement new
teaching ideas for nurse educators and clinical instructors within reasonable guidelines.
The study was designed to minimize risks of negative emotions and maximize benefits of
positive ones by having participants learn how to modify physiological activity to improve
psychological health, performance, and self-esteem in the clinical practice setting. The evidence
supporting these participants’ rights have been maintained by the correspondence to the college’s
institutional review board. An independent ethics review was then also obtained by the college’s
institutional review board, and the students were recruited to participate in the study via a
volunteer basis. Informed consent was signed as a legal document to maintain all rights of the
individuals participating.
Research Design
A randomized controlled trial is the research design utilized in this study. There were
intervention and non-intervention groups; both of these groups were enrolled and studied
concurrently. The research question being studied is, “does early biofeedback intervention
programs impact the level of stress and anxiety of second year of baccalaureate nursing students
as they begin their first clinical experience?” The participants were selected based on a priori
power analysis by G* Power computer program, and they were randomly assigned to either the
biofeedback group or the control group. All participants partook in pre and post intervention
surveys that discussed demographics, perceived stress, and a state anxiety scale. The biofeedback
group received two training sessions led by researchers on how to use the biofeedback device for
BIOFEEDBACK INTERVENTIONS FOR NURSING STUDENTS 6
the duration of the 5-week study. The biofeedback device provided immediate visual and
auditory feedback to sustain heart rhythm patterns. Contrastingly, the control group did not
receive any training or access to the biofeedback device. This study permits replication because
the same process can be used by independent researchers to arrive at the same results.
Sampling
The targeted population of the study included sixty second-year baccalaureate nursing
students. These participants were volunteer female students were female between the ages of 18
and 21 with a grade point average (GPA) ranging between 2.98 and 3.90. Of this sample group,
the students were broken into either the biofeedback intervention group, or the control group.
Data Collection
Surveys were distributed to all participants to determine stress and anxiety levels prior to
initiating the study. The survey was also distributed and collected following completion of the
study. The students in the biofeedback group received two trainings on how to use the emWave
PSR to assist in stress and anxiety management, and they were instructed to use the device three
times a day for the duration of the study. The purpose of a biofeedback device is to help a person
become aware of their heart rate, skin temperature, brainwave activity, blood pressure,
respirations, and muscle activity. In this study, the emWave PSR was used to teach these students
how to control their heart rate variability through breathing and positive emotions techniques.
Quantitative Analysis
The study was conducted by comparing two groups to determine if a biofeedback device
can help reduce stress and anxiety among second-year nursing students. Furthermore, the study
determines the reliability and validity of the biofeedback device. The link between the analysis
and the findings is logical and clear because the nursing students in the biofeedback group were
BIOFEEDBACK INTERVENTIONS FOR NURSING STUDENTS 7
able to maintain the same level of stress over the 5-week study period. Contrastingly, the control
group had a significant increase in their stress over the same time period. Participants in the
biofeedback group had a small increase in perceived stress, but were able to reduce their anxiety.
However, the control group had a significant rise in stress and anxiety. Variables such as age and
GPA showed no significant correlation in regards to anxiety and stress response. The article
presented graphs on page 4 and a table on page 3 that accurately displayed pertinent information.
There was no significant difference in age and GPA between the biofeedback group and
the control group. “There were also no significant differences in the preintervention Perceived
Stress Scale and the preintervention State Anxiety Scale between the two groups”
(Ratanasiripong et al., 2012, p. 3). Based on findings from other studies, both stress and anxiety
levels are expected to increase for nursing students when they begin their first clinical training if
This study was only conducted at one nursing school in one country, and future studies
should consider replicating the study at multiple nursing schools throughout a country. “A
follow-up study on the impact of the biofeedback training on stress, anxiety, and academic
performance of nursing students after one to two years will help nurse educators to better
al., 2012, p. 4). The results of the data analysis tied back to the theoretical framework. It has been
documented that nursing students across the world experience stress and anxiety throughout their
education and training, hence the proposed theory. It is imperative that nurse educators continue
the effort to help nursing students manage their stress and anxiety during this formative process.
BIOFEEDBACK INTERVENTIONS FOR NURSING STUDENTS 8
Nursing educators can train students in critical thinking skills and create programs to help
develop their self-esteem and reduce anxiety. Additionally, the more physiologically healthy the
nursing students are, the more likely they are to succeed, graduate, and become productive and
contributing members of the nursing profession (Ratanasiripong et al., 2012). This research study
can be put into practice by using the information gathered to help reduce stress and anxiety in the
field of nursing.
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References
Hulley, S. B., Cumming, S. R., Browner, W. S., Gray, D. S., & Newman, T. B. (2007).
Designing Clinical Research, 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
Ratanasiripong, P., Ratanasiripong, N., & Kathalae, D. (2012). Biofeedback intervention for
stress and anxiety among nursing students: A randomized controlled trial. International