Efficacy of an online mindfulness intervention for spinal cord injured patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Examining the efficacy of an online mindfulness intervention on pain-related and psychosocial outcomes in a sample of spinal cord injured patients and their primary caregivers.
IRAS ID
156393
Contact name
Jasmine Hearn
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
This research aims to trial a mindfulness-based intervention, in order to provide potential evidence for or against its use in the management of chronic neuropathic pain (pain arising as a result of nerve damage) after a spinal cord injury (SCI). Previous research suggests that pain management after SCI is difficult, and that mindfulness may be an effective pain management technique for this population.
Outpatients with a SCI, and chronic neuropathic pain (persisting beyond three months) will be eligible to take part in the randomised, single-blind study. Participants will be outpatients recruited from The National Spinal Injuries Center, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and the Spinal Injuries Association website, but will carry out the intervention in their own time, in their own home, independently and away from researchers. Participants' partners or primary caregivers will also take part in the study. Mindfulness training will be undertaken by both the patient and their partner/caregiver in an attempt to improve the social support that the partner/caregiver is able to provide the patient with. The control group will go through treatment as usual, and will be blinded to the groupings.
Participants are expected to be involved in the study for a maximum of six months, during which time they will engage in the mindfulness intervention, or continue their treatment as usual, and complete questionnaires. The mindfulness group will complete questionnaires at baseline, four weeks into the course, at eight weeks (upon completion of the course), and 20 weeks (three months-post intervention). The control group will complete the same questionnaires at baseline, four weeks, eight weeks, and 20 weeks. The questionnaires will assess quality of life, social connectedness, anxiety and depression, mindfulness, acceptance, self-compassion, healthcare usage, and pain-related outcomes such as pain catastrophising and intensity.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/1424
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion