Deep Relaxation Experience with Complementary Urban Zen Integrative Therapy: Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Area of Science:

• Complementary Health Approaches
• Integrative Medicine
• Patient Experience Research

Background:

• Complementary Health Approaches (CHAs) are increasingly used as adjunctive therapies for chronic conditions.
• Limited research exists on how patients with pulmonary hypertension utilize and perceive CHAs.
• Understanding patient experiences is crucial for developing effective supportive care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relaxation experience of patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT).
• To identify factors contributing to profound relaxation during UZIT sessions.
• To inform the development of patient-centered therapeutic endpoints for CHAs.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative thematic analysis of 32 focused-debriefing interviews.
• Participants: 13 community-dwelling adults with pulmonary hypertension.
• Intervention: Six weekly UZIT sessions including aromatherapy, gentle movement, restorative poses, meditation, and Reiki.

Main Results:

• Two primary themes emerged: "Relaxation" and "In-between state."
• Deep relaxation was associated with temporal dissociation (loss of time sense) and a transition towards sleep.
• These experiences were particularly noted during body-awareness meditation and the "drifting" into an asleep state.

Conclusions:

• UZIT can facilitate deep relaxation in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
• Temporal awareness and a sleep-like state are key components of the patient's relaxation experience.
• Findings offer insights for refining therapeutic goals and evaluating patient-reported outcomes in CHA research.