Table 2.

Comparison of mean stress scores in the study groups

Stress score (score 0 to 21)	Counseling group (N = 26) Mean)SD)	Control group (N = 26) Mean)SD)	MD (95%CI)	p-value
Before intervention	16.6 (2.1)	16.9 (1.7)	0.26(−0.75 to 1.2)	0.602a
One week after intervention	14.7 (2.8)	16.7 (2.2)	−1.7 (−3.2 to −0.3)	0.018b
One month after intervention	15.2 (2.9)	16.5 (2.3)

^aIndependent t-test

^brepeated measures ANOVA after adjusting the baseline stress value

Before intervention, the number of patients in the counseling and control groups was 30, and after the intervention in the counseling and control groups was 26