A Systematic Review of the Adherence to Home-Practice Meditation Exercises in Patients with Chronic Pain.
Alberto Barceló-soler, Héctor Morillo-Sarto, Selene Fernández-martínez, Alicia Monreal-Bartolomé, Maria José Chambel, Paula Gardiner, Yolanda López-del-hoyo, Javier García-campayo, Adrián Pérez-aranda
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health March 2, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054438 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 31 |
| Population | Patients with chronic pain undergoing third-wave psychotherapy |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Adherence Chronic pain Home practice Systematic review Third wave psychotherapy |
| Key findings | Home meditation practice among chronic pain patients averaged about four days per week with high variability in duration, and most studies found significant associations between practice amount and positive health outcomes; adherence to recommended practice time was low at 39.6%. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-, compassion-, and acceptance-based (i.e., "third wave") psychotherapies are effective for treating chronic pain conditions. Many of these programs require that patients engage in the systematic home practice of meditation experiences so they can develop meditation skills. This systematic review aimed at evaluating the frequency, duration, and effects of home practice in patients with chronic pain undergoing a "third wave" psychotherapy. A comprehensive database search for quantitative studies was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Sciences Core Collection; 31 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies tended to indicate a pattern of moderately frequent practice (around four days/week), with very high variability in terms of time invested; most studies observed significant associations between the amount of practice and positive health outcomes. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy were the most common interventions and presented low levels of adherence to home practice (39.6% of the recommended time). Some studies were conducted on samples of adolescents, who practiced very few minutes, and a few tested eHealth interventions with heterogeneous adherence levels. In conclusion, some adaptations may be required so that patients with chronic pain can engage more easily and, thus, effectively in home meditation practices.