A telephone-delivered mindfulness training program for informal caregivers of African Americans with dementia living in rural North Carolina was feasible and acceptable. Of those screened, 78% enrolled, 86% completed the study, and 88% attended at least six of eight weekly sessions. Caregivers reported reduced perceived burden and increased positive emotions from before to after the intervention. Both inhibitory and prospective intolerance of uncertainty also decreased. Participants valued the program, especially the telephone format. The findings suggest this approach may help reduce caregiver burden in underserved rural populations and warrants testing in a randomized trial.
A four-week abbreviated mindfulness program for adults with chronic pain is feasible, acceptable, and may improve quality of life and psychological functioning. In a single-arm study of 23 adults new to mindfulness, participants completed four weekly 90-minute sessions adapted from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Acceptable retention and attendance rates and high satisfaction ratings were reported. Significant pre- to post-treatment improvements occurred in pain intensity, pain interference, depressive symptoms, positive affect and well-being, sleep disturbance, pain acceptance, pain catastrophizing, perceived stress, and dispositional mindfulness, but not in physical functioning or anxiety. An appropriately powered randomized controlled trial is needed.