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A randomised controlled trial to test the feasibility of online mindfulness programs for people with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders
February 1, 2021
Jennifer Dunne et al. (9 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess the feasibility of two online mindfulness programs for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) across recruitment, practicality, acceptability, integration, and limited efficacy testing on mental health, quality of life, and pain.

Results Summary

Online mindfulness programs were found feasible and acceptable, with high completion rates (87%), but no statistically significant differences in efficacy measures were observed among groups. Participants reported time and fatigue as barriers to practice.

Population

People with multiple sclerosis (MS)

Effective Dosage

Eight-week program (specific daily practice frequency not detailed)

Duration

Eight weeks

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Mindfulness for Multiple Sclerosis (M4MS)
no change
feasibility of online program delivery
people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
-
were found to be feasible
#1
Chair Yoga
no change
feasibility of online program delivery
people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
-
were found to be feasible
#2
Mindfulness for Multiple Sclerosis (M4MS)
no change
program practicality and acceptability
people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
-
were perceived as practical and acceptable
#3
Chair Yoga
no change
program practicality and acceptability
people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
-
were perceived as practical and acceptable
#4
Mindfulness for Multiple Sclerosis (M4MS)
no change
efficacy measures
people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
p>0.05
No statistically significant differences
#5
Chair Yoga
no change
efficacy measures
people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
p>0.05
No statistically significant differences
#6
Mindfulness for Multiple Sclerosis (M4MS)
no change
program completion rate
people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
87%
87% of the participant completed
#7
Chair Yoga
no change
program completion rate
people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
87%
87% of the participant completed
#8
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Practicing mindfulness may improve mental health and reduce pain in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Since participating in face-to-face mindfulness programs can be challenging for people with MS, exploring alternative ways of delivering these programs is necessary. The objective of this trial was to assess feasibility of two different eight-week online mindfulness programs across five domains: recruitment, practicality, acceptability, integration of mindfulness practice, and limited efficacy testing on mental health, quality of life and pain. METHODS: In a three-arm randomised controlled mixed-method trial, participants were assigned to: 1) Mindfulness for Multiple Sclerosis (M4MS) (n=18); 2) Chair Yoga (n=18); or 3) wait-list control group (n=19) for eight weeks. Daily home practice diaries and weekly reflective journals were collected along with online questionnaires at baseline and post-intervention. Feasibility was assessed using descriptive statistics, multilevel mixed-effects regression, and content analysis. RESULTS: Online recruitment, online program delivery and online data collection were all found to be feasible. The sign up rate was 65% and overall, 87% of the participant completed the eight-week online programs. The programs were perceived as practical and acceptable by the participants. Integration of mindfulness practice into daily life varied, with time and fatigue reported as common barriers to practice. No statistically significant differences in efficacy measures were found among groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Online mindfulness programs are feasible and acceptable for people with MS. This study provides useful insights for future trials when designing online mindfulness programs for people with MS.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Feasibility StudiesHumansMindfulnessMultiple SclerosisQuality of LifeSurveys and Questionnaires
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy50/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations16
Citations/Year4.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.34
NIH Percentile79%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.46
Normalized Score0.55
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