Effectiveness of Mindfulness After a Stroke

Effectiveness of an Online Mindfulness Program for Stroke Survivors and Their Caregivers

Mindfulness is promising for individuals with neurological disorders and caregivers to improve psychological well-being. This study aims to determine the extent to which a 3-week online mindfulness intervention will improve quality of life and psychological well-being for chronic stroke survivors and their caregivers, compared to a waitlist control.

Background: The incidence of depression and anxiety is much higher in stroke survivors and their caregivers compared to age-matched peers. Previous work suggests that mindfulness delivered in an online format is promising for both individuals with neurological disorders and caregivers to improve quality of life and psychological well-being.

Aim: This project aims to determine the extent to which a 3-week online mindfulness intervention will improve quality of life and psychological well-being for chronic stroke survivors and their caregivers, compared to a waitlist control. The primary hypothesis is that participants in the mindfulness group will demonstrate greater improvement in quality of life and psychological well-being post-intervention compared to waitlist control participants. The secondary hypothesis is that these improvements will persist for at least 1-month post-intervention.

Methods: This project uses a pragmatic, randomized, waitlist-control trial design with blinded outcome assessment. Participants (stroke survivors and caregivers) are assigned to a 3-week online mindfulness intervention, or a 2-month delayed waitlist. A battery of self-reported outcome measures and clinical tests are administered pre-intervention, post-intervention and at 1-month follow-up. Participants in the waitlist control group are also assessed at enrollment. A sample of 44 stroke survivors and 44 caregivers is targeted. Changes will be measured using a repeated analysis of variance.

Conclusion: The study constitutes the initial step to understand the role of mindfulness exercises delivered remotely and the potential benefit of the intervention for stroke survivors across a wide range of disability level and their caregivers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Stroke survivor or caregiver of someone who have had a stroke
• Fluent in English
• Have access to Internet using a computer, a tablet and/or a smart phone.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe language impairments
• Participation in regular meditation or a mindfulness program in past 3 months