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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Chronic Pain Management in the Community Pharmacy Setting: A Cross-Sectional Survey of the General Public's Knowledge and Perceptions.

Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland)
September 21, 2023
Klaudia Harris et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess the U.S. general public's knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and preferences regarding Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for chronic pain management, particularly in community pharmacy settings.

Results Summary

The study found low self-rated knowledge and confidence in MBSR among respondents, with positive general beliefs about MBSR for chronic pain but negative perceptions of pharmacy-delivered MBSR. Confidence in seeking MBSR and current opioid use were positively associated with beliefs about pharmacy-delivered MBSR, while income and pain level had negative associations.

Population

U.S. adults aged ≥18 years, predominantly white (79.1%) and female (50.7%), with a mean age of 44.65 years.

Effective Dosage

Not mentioned

Duration

Not mentioned

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (11)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
decrease
chronic pain
-
-
proven to reduce
#1
community pharmacy-based implementation
increase
patient access to mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
-
-
can be increased
#2
-
neutral
respondents' self-rated MBSR knowledge
survey respondents
mean [SD] scale score: 2.30 [0.68]
were low
#3
-
neutral
confidence
survey respondents
2.65 [0.87]
were low
#4
-
neutral
perceived barriers to access
survey respondents
2.22 [0.53]
were low overall
#5
-
increase
beliefs regarding the use of MBSR for treatment of chronic pain
survey respondents
3.67 [0.71]
were positive in general
#6
-
decrease
beliefs regarding community pharmacy-delivered MBSR
survey respondents
2.38 [0.56]
more negative
#7
-
increase
beliefs regarding pharmacy-delivered MBSR
survey respondents
β = 0.297, 95% CI = 0.219 to 0.375; p < 0.001
were positively associated with
#8
-
increase
beliefs regarding pharmacy-delivered MBSR
survey respondents
β = 0.419, 95% CI = 0.147 to 0.690; p = 0.003
were positively associated with
#9
-
decrease
beliefs regarding pharmacy-delivered MBSR
survey respondents
β = -0.124, 95% CI = -0.244 to -0.004; p = 0.043
exerted statistically significant negative influences
#10
-
decrease
beliefs regarding pharmacy-delivered MBSR
survey respondents
β = -0.149, 95% CI = -0.291 to -0.008; p = 0.039
exerted statistically significant negative influences
#11
Abstract

Patient access to mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a complementary and integrative health approach that is proven to reduce chronic pain, can be increased via community pharmacy-based implementation. However, the general public's awareness and preferences regarding MBSR as a treatment option for chronic pain, including provider roles (pharmacist vs. non-pharmacist), are unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the U.S. general public's knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and programmatic preferences regarding MBSR for chronic pain management, particularly in the community pharmacy setting. A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was distributed to U.S. adults ≥18 years via the Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) online survey platform. The survey instrument was informed by Anderson's framework for health service utilization. Measures were assessed using multiple-choice and 5-point Likert-type scales (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). Primary outcome measures included: (1) knowledge and awareness of MBSR (12-items); (2) confidence in seeking out MBSR for pain (5-items); (3) barriers to receiving MBSR (11-items); (4) beliefs about MBSR in general (12-items); (5) beliefs about community pharmacy-delivered MBSR (15-items); and (6) preferences for MBSR classes/programs (6-items). Outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and influential factors associated with mean beliefs regarding community pharmacy-delivered MBSR for chronic pain management were assessed via multiple linear regression. Of the 302 survey respondents, the majority were white (79.1%) and female (50.7%), with a mean age of 44.65 years. Respondents' self-rated MBSR knowledge (mean [SD] scale score: 2.30 [0.68]) and confidence (2.65 [0.87]) were low, although perceived barriers to access were low overall (2.22 [0.53]). Beliefs regarding the use of MBSR for treatment of chronic pain were positive in general (3.67 [0.71]), but more negative regarding community pharmacy-delivered MBSR (2.38 [0.56]). Confidence in seeking out MBSR (β = 0.297, 95% CI = 0.219 to 0.375; p < 0.001) and current opioid use (β = 0.419, 95% CI = 0.147 to 0.690; p = 0.003) were positively associated with beliefs regarding pharmacy-delivered MBSR, while annual household income (β = -0.124, 95% CI = -0.244 to -0.004; p = 0.043) and level of bodily pain (β = -0.149, 95% CI = -0.291 to -0.008; p = 0.039) exerted statistically significant negative influences. Respondents preferred a hybrid MBSR class format including both online and in-person components (29.7%) as well as both group and individual session options (43.7%). In conclusion, further education is necessary to increase the public's perception of community pharmacies as a resource for complementary and integrative health.

Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations2
Citations/Year1.0
Relative Citation Ratio0.85
NIH Percentile44.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.33
Normalized Score0.60