Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on Quality of Life among Hemodialysis Patients: A Preliminary Study
C Cecyli., Nidhi Sharma, P. Thenmozhi
Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences December 5, 2026 DOI: 10.47310/jpms2025141201 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental pretest–posttest Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis for chronic kidney disease |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | MBSR improved several quality-of-life domains in hemodialysis patients, including symptoms, sleep, and physical functioning. |
Abstract
Individuals receiving maintenance hemodialysis for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) frequently encounter complex physical, emotional and social challenges that substantially diminish their Quality of Life (QoL). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has increasingly been recognized as a supportive, non-pharmacological strategy for enhancing well-being in populations with chronic illness. This pilot investigation examined the potential influence of an MBSR program on QoL outcomes among patients undergoing hemodialysis. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest framework was applied with ten participants recruited from a dialysis unit. The intervention cohort engaged in an eight-week structured MBSR program involving weekly one-hour sessions incorporating focused breathing, mindfulness meditation and body-scan practices, while the control cohort continued with standard clinical care. QoL was assessed before and after the intervention using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF v1.3). Analytical procedures included paired and independent t-tests, in addition to correlational analyses exploring associations with demographic and treatment-related parameters. Notable improvements were observed in the intervention group across multiple domains Symptoms and Problems (p = 0.0018), Effects of Kidney Disease (p = 0.0284), Sleep (p = 0.0468), Physical Functioning (p = 0.0265) and Role Limitations due to Physical Health (p = 0.0211). Post-intervention patterns indicated that demographic attributes and dialysis-related variables influenced specific QoL dimensions. These preliminary findings suggest that MBSR may offer meaningful benefits for both physical and psychological dimensions of QoL among hemodialysis patients and merits further evaluation in larger controlled studies.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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State of the evidence: Meditation Supports
An 8-week MBSR program was associated with improvements in several quality-of-life domains, including symptoms, sleep, and physical functioning.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |