Web-Based Mindfulness Interventions for People With Physical Health Conditions: Systematic Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the effectiveness and outcomes of Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for individuals with chronic physical health conditions.
Results Summary
Most studies reported positive effects of Web-based MBIs compared to usual care, particularly for symptom-specific outcomes like pain acceptance and depressive symptoms, though results were mixed when compared to active controls like cognitive behavioral therapy. Condition-specific symptoms showed the largest improvements, while physical variable results were inconclusive.
Population
Individuals with chronic physical health conditions (e.g., cancer, chronic pain, IBS, epilepsy, heart disease, tinnitus, acquired brain injury).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | pain acceptance | people with physical health conditions | - | reported positive effects | #1 |
Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | coping measures | people with physical health conditions | - | reported positive effects | #2 |
Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | depressive symptoms | people with physical health conditions | - | reported positive effects | #3 |
Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | no change | outcomes | people with physical health conditions | - | had mixed results regarding effectiveness | #4 |
Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | condition-specific symptoms | people with physical health conditions | - | had the largest effect size improvements | #5 |
Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | cancer-related fatigue | people with cancer | - | had the largest effect size improvements | #6 |
Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | IBS symptoms | people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) | - | had the largest effect size improvements | #7 |
Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | no change | physical variables | people with physical health conditions | - | results are inconclusive | #8 |
Web-based mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | symptom burden | people with physical health conditions | - | may be helpful in alleviating | #9 |
synchronous versus asynchronous Web-based MBIs | no change | outcomes | people with physical health conditions | - | no evidence of differences | #10 |
facilitated versus self-directed Web-based MBIs | no change | outcomes | people with physical health conditions | - | no evidence of differences | #11 |
BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are becoming increasingly popular for helping people with physical health conditions. Expanding from traditional face-to-face program delivery, there is growing interest in Web-based application of MBIs, though Web-based MBIs for people with physical health conditions specifically have not been thoroughly reviewed to date. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to review Web-based MBIs for people with physical health conditions and to examine all outcomes reported (eg, efficacy or effectiveness for physical changes or psychological changes; feasibility). METHODS: Databases PubMed, PsycINFO, Science Direct, CINAHL Plus, and Web of Science were searched. Full-text English papers that described any Web-based MBI, examining any outcome, for people with chronic physical health conditions were included. Randomized, nonrandomized, controlled, and uncontrolled trials were all included. Extracted data included intervention characteristics, population characteristics, outcomes, and quality indicators. Intervention characteristics (eg, synchronicity and guidance) were examined as potential factors related to study outcomes. RESULTS: Of 435 publications screened, 19 published papers describing 16 studies were included. They examined Web-based MBIs for people with cancer, chronic pain or fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), epilepsy, heart disease, tinnitus, and acquired brain injury. Overall, most studies reported positive effects of Web-based MBIs compared with usual care on a variety of outcomes including pain acceptance, coping measures, and depressive symptoms. There were mixed results regarding the effectiveness of Web-based MBIs compared with active control treatment conditions such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Condition-specific symptoms (eg, cancer-related fatigue and IBS symptoms) targeted by treatment had the largest effect size improvements following MBIs. Results are inconclusive regarding physical variables. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary evidence suggests that Web-based MBIs may be helpful in alleviating symptom burden that those with physical health conditions can experience, particularly when interventions are tailored for specific symptoms. There was no evidence of differences between synchronous versus asynchronous or facilitated versus self-directed Web-based MBIs. Future investigations of Web-based MBIs should evaluate the effects of program adherence, effects on mindfulness levels, and whether synchronous or asynchronous, or facilitated or self-directed interventions elicit greater improvements.