Nursing interventions to manage anxiety levels of female inpatients admitted first time in a leprosy hospital

Leprosy causes not just physical disabilities but mental and psycho social problems which are further more enhanced in women due to their submissive and secondary role in an Indian culture. This is reflected in their reluctance and delay in seeking hospitalization and generates great anxiety while admitted as inpatients. Appropriate nursing care can relieve much anxiety and help in faster healing. This paper presents the findings from such research carried out at a leprosy referral hospital in north India. Adult female leprosy patients newly admitted for the first time in a leprosy referral hospital were interviewed in depth using Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and observed before and after implementing a customized nursing care plan. On admission, out of 40 women admitted more than 80% showed moderate or severe anxiety. After well planned nursing interventions only 2 continued to have severe anxiety, and a majority in all age groups showed significant reductions in anxiety levels, and responded well to leprosy care at the hospital. Well planned nursing care reduces or minimizes anxiety levels of female leprosy patients admitted first time in the hospital, and should become a standard practice in all hospital admissions.