Pilot study evaluating a brief mindfulness intervention for those with chronic pain: study protocol for a randomized...

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions
• Self-Management Strategies

Background:

• Chronic pain significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
• Intensive mindfulness programs are effective but time-consuming.
• Brief, self-management interventions are needed for chronic pain care.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess immediate effects of a brief self-help mindfulness intervention for chronic pain.
• Evaluate the feasibility of a definitive randomized controlled trial for this intervention.

Main Methods:

• Pilot randomized controlled trial with 90 chronic pain patients.
• 15-minute mindfulness audio intervention versus non-fiction readings.
• Assessments at baseline, 1 week, and 1 month for mindfulness, mood, quality of life, and pain catastrophizing.

Main Results:

• The study aims to assess immediate effects on distress and pain, and increased relaxation.
• Feasibility will be determined by effect sizes, patient adherence, and resource allocation.
• Trial registration: ISRCTN61538090.

Conclusions:

• A brief mindfulness intervention shows promise for immediate pain relief and relaxation.
• The study will determine the feasibility of a larger trial for chronic pain self-management.