BACKGROUND
Mindfulness-based intervention is a promising complementary approach to address patients’ psychological needs and promote holistic well-being. This study aimed to examine the effects of a social media-based Mindfulness psyCho-behAvioRal intErvention (MCARE) on health outcomes among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
OBJECTIVE
In this randomized clinical trial, 178 patients (58.7 ± 8.9 years, 68.5% male) with ACS were recruited at two tertiary hospitals in Jinan, China. Participants were randomly assigned to the MCARE group (n = 89) or control group (n = 89). The six-week intervention consisted of one face-to-face session (Phase I) and five weekly WeChat-delivered sessions (Phase II) on mindfulness training and health education and lifestyle modification. Primary outcomes were depression and anxiety. Secondary outcomes included psychological stress, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and cardiovascular risk factors. Outcomes were measured at baseline (T0), immediate post-intervention (T1), and 12-week after the commencement of the intervention (T2).
METHODS
In this randomized clinical trial, 178 patients (58.7 ± 8.9 years, 68.5% male) with ACS were recruited at two tertiary hospitals in Jinan, China. Participants were randomly assigned to the MCARE group (n = 89) or control group (n = 89). The six-week intervention consisted of one face-to-face session (Phase I) and five weekly WeChat-delivered sessions (Phase II) on mindfulness training and health education and lifestyle modification. Primary outcomes were depression and anxiety. Secondary outcomes included psychological stress, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and cardiovascular risk factors. Outcomes were measured at baseline (T0), immediate post-intervention (T1), and 12-week after the commencement of the intervention (T2).
RESULTS
The MCARE group showed significantly greater reductions in depression (T1: β = –2.016, 95% CI –2.584 to –1.449, Cohen’s d –1.28; T2: β = –2.089, 95% CI –2.777 to –1.402, Cohen’s d –1.12) and anxiety (T1: β = –1.024, 95% CI –1.551 to –0.497, Cohen’s d –0.83; T2: β = –0.932, 95% CI –1.519 to –0.346, Cohen’s d –0.70). Significantly greater improvements were also observed in psychological stress, HRQoL, dietary behavior, physical activity, and systolic blood pressure at T2.
CONCLUSIONS
The intervention generated favorable effects on psychological distress, psychological stress, HRQoL, and several aspects of cardiovascular risk factors.
CLINICALTRIAL
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No., ChiCTR2000033526)