The feasibility and acceptability of an online mindfulness-based stress reduction program for chronic musculoskeletal pain: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.
Anita B Amorim, Trudy Rebbeck, Nicholas T. van Dam, Charlotte Johnstone, Claire Ashton-James, Nathalia Costa, Talia Barnet-Hepples, Matthew B Jennings, Kathryn Refshauge, Evangelos Pappas
Pilot and Feasibility Studies March 15, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-025-01612-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed-methods pilot randomised controlled trial with an embedded qualitative study Randomized Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain on waitlists at two multidisciplinary pain management centres within the Sydney Local Health District, New South Wales, Australia |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Chronic musculoskeletal pain Clinical trial Feasibility Mindfulness-based stress reduction Pilot study |
| Key findings | The study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of an online MBSR program for patients waitlisted for multidisciplinary pain care. |
Abstract
Chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions affect millions of people worldwide and place a significant burden on individuals and the healthcare systems. Managing chronic musculoskeletal pain requires a multidisciplinary approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors. However, access to multidisciplinary pain care is challenging, and long wait times can lead to increased stress and health deterioration. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a mind-body approach developed specifically to reduce the distress of living with chronic conditions, such as chronic musculoskeletal pain. This study proposed a novel approach by offering an online MBSR program to patients on waitlists to attend a multidisciplinary pain clinic in Australia's public healthcare system that could improve health outcomes. The study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of this approach using a pilot study design with a mixed-methods approach. This is a mixed-methods pilot randomised controlled trial with an embedded qualitative study. Participants will be recruited from waitlists at two multidisciplinary pain management centres within the Sydney Local Health District in New South Wales, Australia. This pilot trial will randomly assign 32 individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain to either an online MBSR group or a usual care control group. Feasibility outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, adherence to mindfulness practice, and adverse events will be assessed using validated questionnaires. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with participants in the MBSR group to explore their experiences and evaluate acceptability, and barriers and facilitators of engagement with the intervention. This pilot study will evaluate a novel approach to integrating MBSR into the Australian public healthcare system as a mechanism for providing support to individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain who are waitlisted for a multidisciplinary pain management program. Findings from this study will indicate the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary efficacy of this approach in terms of patient-reported outcomes to guide the design of future large-scale clinical trials. This trial was prospectively registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000822785).
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Web-Based Mindfulness Interventions for People With Physical Health Conditions: Systematic Review Journal of Medical Internet Research August 31, 2017
- Defining and measuring meditation-related adverse effects in mindfulness-based programs Clinical Psychological Science May 18, 2021
- Not Just Mind Over Matter: Reviewing With Patients How Mindfulness Relieves Chronic Low Back Pain. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine 2019
- Cost-effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Usual Care Among Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain. Spine October 15, 2017
and 4 more in the library