The Effect of Internet-delivered Mindfulness Stress Reduction Combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Health Anxiety and Quality of Life of Caregiver of Patients Infected by COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effect of Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) on health anxiety and quality of life in caregivers of COVID-19 patients.
Results Summary
The intervention group showed significant reductions in health anxiety subscales and improvements in quality of life compared to the control group, with statistically significant results across multiple measures.
Population
Caregivers of COVID-19 patients in Golpayegan city, Iran, with health anxiety scores above 27 on the HAI-18.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (techniques delivered over 9 weeks via WhatsApp).
Duration
9 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | decrease | worry about consequences subscale of Health Anxiety inventory | caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19 | 5.78±2.66 vs. 7.37±1.34 | significant decrease | #1 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | decrease | awareness of bodily sensation or changes subscale of Health Anxiety inventory | caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19 | 8.90±2.77 vs. 11.75±2.30 | significant decrease | #2 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | decrease | worry about health subscale of Health Anxiety inventory | caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19 | 10.94±2.38 vs. 13.09±1.92 | significant decrease | #3 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | decrease | total score of Health Anxiety inventory | caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19 | 25.62±4.93 vs. 32.25±3.93 | significant decrease | #4 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | increase | general health perceptions subscale of Quality of Life Questionnaire | caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19 | 3.03±0.96 vs. 2.43±0.95 | better | #5 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | increase | mental health subscale of Quality of Life Questionnaire | caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19 | 7.12±2.25 vs. 6.34±1.85 | better | #6 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | increase | mental component summary of Quality of Life Questionnaire | caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19 | 16.78±3.75 vs. 15.43±3.05 | better | #7 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | increase | physical component summary of Quality of Life Questionnaire | caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19 | 16.06±2.66 vs. 15.19±2.25 | better | #8 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | increase | total score of Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-12) | caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19 | 32.84±5.39 vs. 30.62±4.34 | better | #9 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | decrease | health anxiety | caregivers with patients infected by COVID-19 | - | could improve | #10 |
Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) | increase | quality of life | caregivers with patients infected by COVID-19 | - | could improve | #11 |
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a widespread disease all over the world that has caused many psychological complications such as health anxiety (HA) and low quality of life (QOL). Mindfulness-based approaches could improve these complications. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of Internet-delivered mindfulness stress reduction combined with acceptance and commitment therapy (IMSR-ACT) on QOL and HA of caregivers of patients infected by COVID-19. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 72 people from Golpayegan city, Iran, who had a patient with COVID-19 in their family were selected from March to June 2020. A caregiver with a score above 27 on the Health Anxiety inventory (HAI-18) was selected using simple random sampling. Participants were assigned in the intervention or control group by permuted block random allocation. The intervention group was trained by MSR and ACT techniques for 9 weeks accomplished via WhatsApp. All participants completed the QOLQuestionnaire-12 (SF-12) items and HAI-18 before and after completing IMSR-ACT sessions. The data were analyzed through SPSS-23 software, using Chi square, independent and paired t-test, and analysis of covariance, and P-value<0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: The results showed that the intervention group compared to the control group had a significant decrease in all subscales of HAI after the intervention including worry about consequences (5.78±2.66 vs. 7.37±1.34, P=0.004) and awareness of bodily sensation or changes (8.90±2.77 vs. 11.75±2.30, P=0.001), worry about health (10.94±2.38 vs. 13.09±1.92, P=0.001), and total score of HAI (25.62±4.93 vs. 32.25±3.93, P=0.001). Also, the intervention group compared to the control group had better QOL after the intervention in general health perceptions (3.03±0.96 vs. 2.43±0.95, P=0.01), mental health (7.12±2.25 vs. 6.34±1.85 and P=0.01) and mental component summary) 16.78±3.75 vs. 15.43±3.05, P=0.01), physical component summary (16.06±2.66 vs. 15.19±2.25, P=0.01), and total score of SF-12 (32.84±5.39 vs. 30.62±4.34, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: Internet-delivered MSR combined with ACT could improve the HA and QOL of caregivers with patients infected by COVID-19. Thus, it can used in other similar situations for now and future. Also, it seems to be a useful approach for caregivers of the other illnesses.