A influência da meditação guiada sobre o bem-estar de pacientes crônicos pós-AVC

Abstract

Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide. In this context, secondary prevention has been considered the basis for reducing cases of the disease. With this, meditation has been a practice used in the rehabilitation of individuals with various ailments, including stroke. The main objective of the present study was to verify the impacts that this type of treatment causes on well-being, perceived stress and pain outcomes. As secondary objectives, to evaluate barriers and facilitators for implementation in individuals with chronic stroke sequelae. Participants underwent an 8-week mindfulness meditation program using the “Meditation Natura” mobile app, with guided practices lasting an average of 15 minutes each. Subjects enrolled in the study were remotely followed and assessed before the start of the program, after four weeks, and at the end of eight weeks. The study data show that there was an improvement in well-being from the 1st (15 [8.00; 18.00]) to the 8th week (21 [17.00; 23.50]) (T0-T8 p=0.018) , as well as from the 4th week (18 [14.50; 21.50]) to the 8th week (21 [17.00; 23.50]) (T4-T8 p=0.0431). From the 1st (31 [30.50; 36.00]) to the 4th week (30 [27.50; 30.00]) (T0-T4 p=0.0277), the results of the Perceived Stress Scale were positive, however , from the 4th week (30 [27.50; 30.00)] to the 8th week (32 [31.00; 35.00]) (T4-T8 p=0.028), there was a worsening in the variable. For the pain outcome, there was no statistical difference between the data. Regarding the barriers encountered, problems with the internet and difficulty in concentrating stand out, while the experience acquired over the weeks of the program was cited as a facilitator. We suggest that mindfulness meditation via mobile application is capable of improving the well-being of post-stroke individuals, and can be inserted into therapy with the aim of improving self-perception of health, being an important result that directly impacts clinical practice, since which is a low-cost intervention.