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Pain Management 2016
October 03-04, 2016
Volume 5, Issue 5(Suppl) J Pain Relief
ISSN: 2167-0846 JPAR, an open access journal
conferenceseries .com
October 03-04, 2016 Vancouver, Canada
International Conference on
Pain Research & Management
Anastassia Howarth et al., J Pain Relief 2016, 5:5(Suppl)
Views on a brief mindfulness intervention among patients with long-term illness
Anastassia Howarth, Linda Perkins-Porras, Claire Copland and Michael Ussher
St. George's University of London, UK
C hronic illness is the leading cause of death in UK and worldwide. Psychological therapies to support self-management
have been shown to play an important role in helping those with chronic illness cope; more recently, the therapeutic
benefits of mindfulness approaches have become evident for managing depression and other distressing emotions. Brief
guided mindfulness interventions, are more convenient than intensive traditional programs requiring regular attendance but
have been less explored. This study assessed views on a brief (i.e., 10 minute) mindfulness intervention for those with specific
long-term illnesses. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with chronic illness patient groups (i.e.,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic pain and cardiovascular disease), designed to capture the acceptability and
feasibility of the intervention. The interviews were conducted after use of mindfulness based audio in clinic and, one week
later, after use in the patient's own environment. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.
In total, a combination of 18 interviews and focus groups were conducted among 14 patients. Recruitment was most successful
with chronic pain patients. All patients reported benefits such as feelings of relaxation and improved coping with symptoms.
While the wording and content of the audio were generally well received, it was suggested that the length could be increased, as
it felt rushed, and that more guidance about the purpose of mindfulness, and when to use it, was needed. A brief mindfulness
intervention was well accepted among patients with long-term illness. The intervention may benefit by being lengthened and
by offering further guidance on its use.
Biography
Anastassia Howarth is currently pursuing her PhD in Behavioral Medicine, specializing in Chronic Pain Management at St. George’s University of London. Her
prior degree, an MSc in Health Psychology, focused on lower back pain and she has previous research experience in health outcomes research specifically with
patient reported outcomes. Her most recent publication is the protocol for a pilot study of a randomized controlled trial, evaluating a brief mindfulness intervention
for those with chronic pain.