Evaluating a brief mindfulness intervention after hysterectomy in young women - A pilot study in Pakistan.
Farhana Ambreen, Ambreen Fatima, Vladimir O Hedrih
African journal of reproductive health May 30, 2025 DOI: 10.29063/ajrh2025/v29i5.2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental, open label design Open-label Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Young women recovering from hysterectomy |
| Intervention | brief mindfulness-based intervention |
| Duration | 4-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mental health Positive psychological functioning Hysterectomy recovery: post-hysterectomy Uterine removal recovery Gynecological surgery recovery Emotional health Distress management Mental wellness Mindfulness-based interventions: mbis Mindfulness therapy Mind-body practices Stress reduction techniques Mental well-being Emotional functioning Psychological health |
| Key findings | A 4-week brief mindfulness-based intervention reduced psychological distress to normal levels and restored positive psychological functioning in young women post-hysterectomy, while untreated controls remained distressed. |
Abstract
Hysterectomy is a common surgical procedure that involves the removal of a woman's uterus. The procedure can produce substantial psychological distress, particularly in young women, which can be long-lasting. The goal of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a 4-week brief mindfulness-based intervention in reducing the symptoms of psychological distress in women who underwent hysterectomy and restoring their positive psychological functioning. The study used a quasi-experimental, open label design. Participants were 16 young women recovering from hysterectomy. 8 of these women underwent the brief-mindfulness based intervention, while the remaining 8 were a control, no treatment group. Results showed that women participating in the study reported mild-to-severe symptoms of psychological distress and very low positive psychological functioning levels in pretest. After the treatment, distress levels of women in the treatment group returned to normal values, while distress levels of women in the control group remained elevated.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |