A systematic review of nine interventional studies found that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs, including adapted or brief versions, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout among nurses and improve job satisfaction. The review, covering literature from 2002 to 2018, assessed study quality and concluded that MBSR appears promising for lowering psychological distress in this population. The authors call for future randomized controlled trials with larger samples and longer follow-up, as well as creative delivery methods to make MBSR more accessible to nurses.
Nursing staff at a Thai rehabilitation centre that uses complementary therapies such as Thai massage and herbal therapies describe their role in stroke patients' recovery. Through interviews, nurses emphasized two themes: their professional landscape and changes in patients' embodiment. Their discourse centers on attending to holistic care, preparing patients for a state of readiness to heal. Nurses motivate, advise, educate, calm, and impart a sense of family, establishing a strong connection between mind, body, and spirit that potentiates recovery. The contexts of time, space, and other people influence patients' progress.
A systematic review of six studies found that mindfulness-based interventions generally reduce psychological distress—such as anxiety and depression—in cancer patients and their partners. The specific components of the interventions varied across studies. Treating the patient and partner as a couple unit, rather than separately, may improve emotional well-being for both individuals. The evidence suggests that involving both partners simultaneously in mindfulness programs yields positive effects, though more research is needed to determine optimal practices.