Recruiting and retaining family caregivers to a randomized controlled trial on mindfulness-based stress reduction.
Robin R Whitebird, Mary Jo Kreitzer, Beth A Lewis, Leah R Hanson, A Lauren Crain, Chris J Enstad, Adele Mehta
Contemporary Clinical Trials September 2011 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2011.05.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Family caregivers for a family member with dementia |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Duration | Post-intervention (2 months) and 6 months |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | The pilot study exceeded its recruitment goal and retained 92% of participants at post-intervention (2 months) and 90% at 6 months. The authors contend that recruitment and retention for caregiver interventions using mind-body complementary therapies can succeed despite barriers such as cultural perceptions of complementary therapies and of the caregiver role, time demands of group-based designs, and travel and respite care needs. |
Abstract
Caregivers for a family member with dementia experience chronic long-term stress that may benefit from new complementary therapies such as mindfulness-based stress reduction. Little is known however, about the challenges of recruiting and retaining family caregivers to research on mind-body based complementary therapies. Our pilot study is the first of its kind to successfully recruit caregivers for a family member with dementia to a randomized controlled pilot study of mindfulness-based stress reduction. The study used an array of recruitment strategies and techniques that were tailored to fit the unique features of our recruitment sources and employed retention strategies that placed high value on establishing early and ongoing communication with potential participants. Innovative recruitment methods including conducting outreach to health plan members and generating press coverage were combined with standard methods of community outreach and paid advertising. We were successful in exceeding our recruitment goal and retained 92% of the study participants at post-intervention (2 months) and 90% at 6 months. Recruitment and retention for family caregiver interventions employing mind-body based complementary therapies can be successful despite many challenges. Barriers include cultural perceptions about the use and benefit of complementary therapies, cultural differences with how the role of family caregiver is perceived, the use of group-based designs requiring significant time commitment by participants, and travel and respite care needs for busy family caregivers.
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
Cited by 6
- Mindfulness training for psychological stress in family caregivers of persons with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Clinical Interventions in Aging September 1, 2017
- Prospective feasibility study of a mindfulness-based program for breast cancer patients in the southeastern US. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice November 2022
- Mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in adults in nonclinical settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS Medicine January 11, 2021
- Reducing diabetes distress and improving self-management with mindfulness. Social Work in Health Care January 2018
- Effectiveness and Usability of a Web-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Families Living with Mental Illness. Mindfulness December 8, 2016
and 1 more in the library