Effects of a Mobile App-Based Mindfulness Intervention in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury and Chronic Pain: a Randomized Controlled Trial
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a 6-week app-guided MM intervention compared to a 6-week app-guided health education AC condition on pain intensity, pain interference, depression, and anxiety.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Traumatic SCI of at least 6 months duration * Chronic pain \[defined as pain lasting at least 3 months with a pain intensity rating of 4 or higher on a 10-point visual analog scale\] * Understand spoken and written English sufficiently to provide informed consent, participate in the intervention and complete study surveys Exclusion Criteria: * Lack of daily internet access * inability to demonstrate comprehension of informed consent by correctly answering 4 out of 5 questions about the study * Significant visual/hearing impairment that does not allow use of the MM app'…
Interventions
- OtherMindfulness meditation (MM) Intervention
Participants will be asked to download the Mindfulness Coach app that provides simple instructions and brief meditation exercises.This is a a gradual training program of 14 levels which will be completed in the first 2-3 weeks. Each level provides short readings about mindfulness and one or two guided meditations (a silent "seated practice" for increasing lengths of time plus typically an additional 8-13-minute meditation). As participants progress through the levels, they earn "badges" displayed in the app, and an image of a tree on the home screen grows as each successive level is completed.For the remaining weeks of the intervention, participants will select at least one (and ideally two) guided meditation per day from the complete list of available meditations.Participants will track their progress through weekly logs.
- OtherHealth Education Active Control Intervention
Participants will be asked to download and use the free TED Talk app, which will have 50 TED talk videos related to health that range from 3-20 minutes. Participants will be asked to watch or listen to these videos for ≥ 10 minutes daily for 6 days per week and complete weekly logs of the TED Talk app use.
Location
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHouston, Texas