Publication date: Sep 12, 2025
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of healthcare workers, including housekeeping staff, who experience elevated levels of anxiety. This group has been under-addressed in mental health interventions. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) and relaxation techniques in reducing anxiety among hospital housekeeping workers during the pandemic. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted with two groups: Group A received tVNS, while Group B underwent a combination of Bhramari Pranayama and Jacobson Relaxation Technique. Outcome tool used-GAD-7 scale, and salivary cortisol levels. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test for within-group comparisons and Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test for between-group comparisons. ResultsThe tVNS group showed a significant reduction in GAD-7 scores (pre-test median: 17. 0, post-test median: 13. 0) and salivary cortisol levels (pre-test mean: 2. 35, post-test mean: 1. 72), with statistical significance (p
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | anxiety disorders |
| Housekeeping | Coron avirus infections |
| Pandemic | health risks |
| Salivary | healthcare occupations |
| Tvns | relaxation techniques |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | IDO | intervention |
| disease | MESH | anxiety |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 pandemic |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Etoperidone |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Hydrocortisone |
| disease | MESH | anxiety disorders |
| disease | MESH | infections |