The effect of mindfulness program on general health of patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Maryam Moosavi Nejad, Nahid Shahgholian, Rahele Samouei
Journal of Education and Health Promotion June 12, 2018 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_132_17 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Patients undergoing hemodialysis |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Duration | 8 sessions over the intervention period; follow-up 1 month after intervention |
| Measures | General Health Questionnaire |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Iran Hemodialysis General health |
| Key findings | Mindfulness training reduced general health disorder scores in hemodialysis patients from a mean of 44.17 before the intervention to 21.9 immediately after and 23.6 one month later, with significant improvements in physical symptoms, anxiety and sleep disorder, social dysfunction, and depression. The control group showed no significant changes, and the authors conclude that mindfulness may serve as a complementary treatment to improve general health in this population. |
Abstract
Introduction: Patients undergoing hemodialysis have a low level of health and mindfulness technique in mind-body medicine is used to help patients with chronic illness. Therefore, this clinical trial was conducted to determine the effect of the mindfulness program on the general health of patients undergoing treatment with hemodialysis.
Methods: Sixty hemodialysis patients were selected through the convenient method and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Both groups completed demographic information questionnaire and general health questionnaire. Then, the experimental group received 8 sessions of mindfulness training and the control group received 8 sessions of education in relation to end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis. Educational sessions were performed for both groups in the second 30 min after hemodialysis for 1 h in six individual sessions and two 1.5 h group sessions. Immediately after and 1 month after the intervention, the General Health Questionnaire was completed by both groups.
Results: Analysis of the findings showed no significant differences between the mean score of general health disorder and its subscales before the intervention in to two groups (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, after intervention in the experimental group, the mean of general health disorder score decreased from 44.17 ± 12.32 to 21.9 ± 6.4 and 1 month after the intervention, the mean score of this score was 23.6 ± 6.2. The mean score of physical symptoms, anxiety and sleep disorder, social functioning deficiency, and depression were also significantly lower in the experimental group immediately after intervention and 1 month after the intervention; however, there were no significant differences between the mean of this score immediately and 1 month after the intervention. In addition, the mean score of general health disorder changes immediately and 1 month after the intervention in the experimental group was significantly more than the control group. In the control group, there was no significant difference between the mean score of general health disorder and its subscales before, immediately, and 1 month after the intervention (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: The results of this research showed that mindfulness has been effective in reducing physical and anxiety symptoms, sleep disorder, social dysfunction, and depression symptoms. Therefore, the use of mindfulness as a complementary treatment can improve the general health level in these patients.
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 8
- Brief Mindfulness Intervention vs. Health Enhancement Program for Patients Undergoing Dialysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Healthcare June 1, 2021
- The impact of mindfulness meditation on pro-inflammatory biomarkers in patients with end-stage renal disease: A randomized trial SAGE Open Medicine 2024
- Experiences of People with Kidney Disease Following the Implementation of the Compassionate Mindful Resilience Programme: Qualitative Findings from the COSMIC Study. Healthcare November 8, 2023
- Feasibility of the Hemomindful Program: a mindfulness-based program performed during hemodialysis. Jornal brasileiro de nefrologia 2025
- Mindfulness-based intervention as a symptom management strategy in patients with end-stage renal disease: A controlled clinical trial. International Journal of Nursing Practice December 1, 2024
and 3 more in the library
Cites 8
- Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse JAMA Psychiatry April 28, 2016
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Physical Conditions: A Narrative Review Evaluating Levels of Evidence ISRN Psychiatry November 14, 2012
- How mindfulness changed my sleep: focus groups with chronic insomnia patients. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine February 10, 2014
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction: a non-pharmacological approach for chronic illnesses. North American Journal of Medical Sciences 2011
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for people with chronic diseases. Australian journal of primary health 2010
and 3 more in the library