Are Formal and Informal Home Mindfulness Practice Quantities Associated With Outcomes? Results From a Pilot Study of a Four-Week Mindfulness Intervention for Chronic Pain Management

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  • Brintz, Carrie E.
  • Polser, Geneva
    • Other Affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
  • Coronado, Rogelio A.
    • Other Affiliation: Vanderbilt Center for Musculoskeletal Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
  • French, Benjamin
  • Faurot, Keturah R.
  • Gaylord, Susan A.
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Abstract
  • Background The association between home mindfulness practice quantity in standard length mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and chronic pain outcomes is variable. Few studies focus on abbreviated MBIs (< 8 weeks) and distinguish between formal guided practices and informal practices in daily life. Objectives To characterize home mindfulness practice and explore associations between home practice quantity and pre-to-post-outcome changes after an MBI for chronic pain. Methods In this single-arm study, 21 adults with chronic pain (mean age = 54 years, 81% White, mean pain duration = 7 years) completed an MBI with four weekly group sessions. Pre and post self-report measures of pain intensity/interference, physical function, depression, anxiety, positive affect, sleep disturbance (all PROMIS measures), and pain acceptance, catastrophizing, perceived stress and mindfulness were completed, along with daily surveys of formal (mindfulness of breath, body scan) and informal (breathing space, mindfulness of daily activities) practice. Bivariate correlations and multivariable regression models were used to assess the association between days and minutes of practice and change in outcomes. Results On average, formal practice was completed on 4.3 days per week and 13.5 minutes per day. Informal practice was completed on 3.5 days per week and 8.6 minutes per day. Formal practice was not significantly correlated with outcomes (Spearman’s ρ = |.01|-|.32|), whereas informal practice was correlated with multiple outcomes (ρ = |.04|-|.66|). Number of days practiced informally was associated with improved pain interference, physical function, sleep disturbance, and catastrophizing (p’s ≤ .05). Number of minutes practiced informally was associated with improved pain interference, anxiety, positive affect, and catastrophizing (p’s ≤ .05). Conclusion Informal home practice quantity, but not formal practice quantity, is associated with improved outcomes during an abbreviated MBI for chronic pain. For these MBIs, it is important to evaluate the distinct roles of formal and informal practice.ClinicalTrials.gov RegistrationNCT03495856.
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  • Article
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  • In Copyright
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  • Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health, unless otherwise noted. Manuscript content on this site is licensed under Creative Commons Licenses
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  • Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Journal title
  • Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health
Journal volume
  • 13
Funder
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
  • National Institutes of Health
  • North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute
  • NIH/NCATS
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
  • Vanderbilt Clinical and Translational Research Scholars
  • Institutional National Research Service
ISSN
  • 2753-6130
Copyright date
  • 2024
Publisher
  • SAGE Publications

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