Mindfulness-Based Orofacial Pain Education and Management Program: A Qualitative Analysis of Transgender Participants' Perceptions.
Melissa De Oliveira Melchior, Beatriz Dorne, Alex Moreira Mélo, Nadyne Saab Messias, Victor Hugo Alves Ribeiro-Silva, Lucas Gaspar Ribeiro, Lúcia Alves da Silva-Lara, Christie Ramos Andrade Leite-Panissi, Edilaine Cristina da Silva Gherardi-Donato, Jardel Francisco Mazzi-Chaves, Laís Valencise Magri
Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry 2026 DOI: 10.1111/scd.70141 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Transgender individuals with TMD (ages 24-39) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Orofacial Pain Education Program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Orofacial pain Pain education Temporomandibular disorders Transgender health |
| Key findings | The program was perceived as feasible and beneficial, promoting self-efficacy, emotional resilience, and pain self-management. Participants reported qualitative improvements in emotional regulation, sleep quality, and pain perception, though challenges included distractions and difficulty maintaining routine practice. |
Abstract
Transgender individuals are disproportionately affected by temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), often compounded by psychosocial stressors and limited access to affirming healthcare. Conventional TMD treatments may fall short in addressing the emotional and behavioral components of chronic orofacial pain, underscoring the need for integrative interventions. This study aimed to explore the implementation and perceived impact of a Mindfulness-Based Orofacial Pain Education Program as a complementary approach for transgender individuals with TMD. A qualitative design was employed, using weekly instructor reports and a post-intervention focus group with transgender participants (ages 24-39), each diagnosed with TMD according to the DC/TMD criteria. Over eight weeks, participants attended weekly 60-min sessions incorporating mindfulness practices, pain education, and self-management strategies. Data sources included 8 weekly instructor audio reports (n = 32 recordings) and one focus group interview (duration: 68 min). All transcriptions were analyzed using Thematic Network Analysis supported by NVivo software (QSR International). The Analysis identified a global theme of increased self-awareness and engagement in pain management. Three organizing themes emerged: (1) social support as a catalyst for adherence; (2) mindfulness as a strategy for emotional and sensory regulation; and (3) environmental and motivational barriers to sustained practice. Participants reported qualitative improvements in emotional regulation, sleep quality, and pain perception. Challenges included distraction due to the shared clinic setting and difficulties maintaining routine mindfulness practice, especially among participants reporting lower initial motivation. The Mindfulness-Based Orofacial Pain Education Program was perceived as a feasible and beneficial adjunct to standard TMD care, promoting self-efficacy, emotional resilience, and pain self-management in a socially vulnerable population. Despite the small sample, consistent thematic convergence and participant engagement suggest promising applicability.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Mindfulness and pain catastrophization: how are they associated in women with chronic painful temporomandibular disorder (TMD)? Cranio : the journal of craniomandibular practice January 2025
- Mechanisms of mindfulness in patients with migraine: Results of a qualitative study. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain March 2023
- Mindfulness and Behavior Change Harvard Review of Psychiatry November 1, 2020
- The neural mechanisms of mindfulness-based pain relief: a functional magnetic resonance imaging-based review and primer. PAIN Reports July 1, 2019
- Mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain: Evidence and applications. Asian Journal of Psychiatry February 2018
and 1 more in the library