Adherence Patterns and Acceptability of a Perioperative, App-Based Mindfulness Meditation Among Surgical Patients With Chronic Pain
Maggie L. Diller, Jennifer Mascaro, Carla Haack, Viraj Master
The American Surgeon™ May 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1177/00031348221109815 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Surgical patients with chronic pain |
| Dose | 10 minutes/day |
| Duration | 6-week study period |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Surgical patients with chronic pain reported high interest in using an app-based mindfulness intervention, but actual adherence was low, with only 8% using it for the recommended amount of time. |
Abstract
Identifying barriers to compliance with mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) during the perioperative period is paramount to the design and implementation of non-pharmacologic, opiate-sparing pain regimens. We prospectively investigated the acceptability and adherence patterns of an app-based MBI amongst surgical patients with chronic pain. Patients were provided a subscription code to a meditation app and encouraged to use the app an average of 10 minutes/day over a 6-week study period. Patients reported a high level of interest in using the app prior to enrollment. 71% used the app at least once, 30% for half the recommended time, and 8% for the recommended amount of time. 88% of respondents enjoyed using the app and agreed it improved mental health and stress levels. Surgical patients with pre-existing pain report a high level of interest in utilizing MBIs perioperatively. Identifying barriers to compliance represents an important area of future investigation.