The purpose of this paper was to review and synthesize published research articles that have utilized yoga nidra as an intervention.
Yoga nidra is a form of guided meditation that has emerged in the ...literature in the past two decades as an intervention for a variety of medical conditions such as stress and mental health. It differs from traditional yoga, in that it does not require yoga poses. It is a noninvasive, cost-effective approach that is also easily accessible so it can be done in the privacy and comfort of the home.
The integrative review methodology by Whittemore and Knafl (2005) provided the framework for this review.
The databases CINAHL, PubMed, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO were used to search for articles. Inclusion criteria consisted of journal articles in English with no limitations on dates of publication. Studies were excluded if any form of traditional yoga requiring poses was used as an intervention. Also excluded were all types of meditation that were not yoga nidra, systematic reviews, studies that utilized multiple intervention types (i.e., traditional yoga and yoga nidra), and commentaries/brief reports. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Quality appraisal was completed for each study.
The 29 studies that were reviewed consisted of 12 randomized controlled trials, 13 quasi-experimental studies, 3 mixed-methods studies, and 1 qualitative study. Outcome variables were categorized according to themes and results were systemically synthesized and reported by theme: (a) stress, (b) mood, (c) well-being, (d) psychologic dysfunction, (e) biomarkers, (f) sleep, and (g) miscellaneous.
Yoga nidra was found to be effective in most of these studies. However, there was some clinical heterogeneity in the sample populations and intervention session lengths, frequencies, and durations, making it difficult to draw conclusions about yoga nidra intervention based solely on the findings presented in this review. More studies are needed overall, particularly ones with larger sample sizes and stronger experimental designs.
Yoga nidra has the potential to be a useful, noninvasive, nonpharmacologic treatment or adjunct for a variety of conditions, particularly mental health.
The persistence of chemotherapy-induced nausea (CIN) underscores the need to consider nonpharmacologic treatments such as music listening as adjunct interventions. This pilot study investigated the ...feasibility and overall effects of a 30-minute adjunct music listening intervention in 12 patients experiencing CIN. Music listening was started at the time participants took their as-needed antiemetic medication, and it was repeated as needed during the 5 days after chemotherapy. Data for 66 music listening engagements were collected. A significant reduction of nausea severity (t = 10.97, p < .001) and distress (t = 9.86, p < .001) was noted overall, as well as significant reductions when examining the acute and delayed phases of nausea individually. Qualitative data on study feasibility demonstrated the intervention was well received by participants and held minimal operational difficulty. Investigator feasibility data suggested good understanding of data collection tools. Improvements to the study design have been collected and will form the basis of the future randomized controlled trial.
Abstract
Objective
This analysis of patient–health care provider discussions of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) evaluated the dynamics of interactions, identified communication gaps, and assessed ...the functional burden of opioid-induced constipation on patients’ lives.
Design
Retrospective analysis of a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant database of >120,000 patient–provider conversations.
Setting
Outpatient offices in the United States.
Methods
Conversations between providers and patients prescribed opioids that occurred in the United States (January 2014–May 2016) and included a discussion of opioid-induced constipation were identified. Demographics and prespecified opioid-induced constipation conversation characteristics were evaluated for these conversations.
Results
This analysis included 216 patient–provider discussions. Most patients (76.4% 165/216) were ≥50 years old. Most conversations were with pain management specialists (39.8% 86/216) or primary care physicians (36.6% 79/216). Overall, 64.4% (139/216) of patients reported experiencing symptoms of constipation. Health care providers indicated that symptoms of constipation could be caused by opioid use for 75.5% (105/139) of patients with constipation. In most cases (82.4% 178/216), providers did not probe about specific constipation symptoms. Few patients (11.5% 16/139) with OIC discussed the burden of OIC with their providers; burdens reported by patients with OIC included emergency room visits and reduced food or fluid intake. No specific action was recommended for 33.8% (47/139) of patients with constipation.
Conclusions
In this analysis, when opioid-induced constipation was discussed, health care providers did not inquire about specific symptoms for most patients, opioids were not cited as a cause of constipation in approximately one-quarter of patients with opioid-induced constipation, and no clear treatment plan or guidance was recommended for one-third of patients. Results of this analysis suggest that more education may be needed to improve patient–provider communication about opioid-induced constipation.
The purpose of this review is to highlight the neighborhood, socioeconomic, and racial influences on chronic pain. Negative influences on the experience of chronic pain are explored and defined as ...any adverse stressor common in low socioeconomic, urban neighborhoods that potentially contributes to health disparity in African Americans experiencing chronic pain. The multifactorial influences on chronic pain disparity in African Americans are explored and expounded upon in this review of existing evidence. Databases used for the search included CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycArticles. The experience of chronic pain is multifaceted, existing with multiple comorbidities and lasting consequences. To improve the burden of chronic pain requires a multifactorial assessment that considers neighborhood risk factors, emphasis on environmental stressors, limitations to support networks, barriers to physical activity, and access to primary care providers with whom communication is open and without bias. A comprehensive assessment of barriers will aid in the development of interventions that reach beyond the physical factors of chronic pain, also considering the psychosocial barriers to improving the burden of chronic pain in African Americans living in impoverished urban neighborhoods.
Aim: The purpose of this paper was to review and synthesize published research articles that have utilized yoga nidra as an intervention. Background: Yoga nidra is a form of guided meditation that ...has emerged in the literature in the past two decades as an intervention for a variety of medical conditions such as stress and mental health. It differs from traditional yoga, in that it does not require yoga poses. It is a noninvasive, cost-effective approach that is also easily accessible so it can be done in the privacy and comfort of the home. Design: The integrative review methodology by Whittemore and Knafl (2005) provided the framework for this review. Methods: The databases CINAHL, PubMed, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO were used to search for articles. Inclusion criteria consisted of journal articles in English with no limitations on dates of publication. Studies were excluded if any form of traditional yoga requiring poses was used as an intervention. Also excluded were all types of meditation that were not yoga nidra, systematic reviews, studies that utilized multiple intervention types (i.e., traditional yoga and yoga nidra), and commentaries/brief reports. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Quality appraisal was completed for each study. Results: The 29 studies that were reviewed consisted of 12 randomized controlled trials, 13 quasi-experimental studies, 3 mixed-methods studies, and 1 qualitative study. Outcome variables were categorized according to themes and results were systemically synthesized and reported by theme: (a) stress, (b) mood, (c) well-being, (d) psychologic dysfunction, (e) biomarkers, (f) sleep, and (g) miscellaneous. Conclusion: Yoga nidra was found to be effective in most of these studies. However, there was some clinical heterogeneity in the sample populations and intervention session lengths, frequencies, and durations, making it difficult to draw conclusions about yoga nidra intervention based solely on the findings presented in this review. More studies are needed overall, particularly ones with larger sample sizes and stronger experimental designs. Clinical Relevance: Yoga nidra has the potential to be a useful, noninvasive, nonpharmacologic treatment or adjunct for a variety of conditions, particularly mental health.
Abstract
Introduction. Belief in one's ability to control pain is a significant predictor of health outcomes and is related to improved functional status. The purpose of this study was to introduce a ...novel formulation of the construct,
Perceived Control Over Pain
and to test its effects on functional status.
Methods. Participants (N = 301) were primarily African American (92%); and were adults with low income attending a primary care clinic and reporting pain within the past 2 weeks. A cross-sectional design was used with confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The
Perceived Control Over Pain
construct consisted of four measures—two specific measures of control over pain and two general measures of control over life events
. Perceived Control Over Pain
has not been defined in this way previously.
Results. Mean worst pain scores for the past week were 8.4, where “0” (
no pain
) to “10” (
pain as bad as you can imagine
). The model demonstrated good construct validity for the components of pain,
Perceived Control Over Pain
and functional status. Mediation by
Perceived Control Over Pain
was partial but strong, accounting for a reduction of 29% in the effect of pain on functional status.
Discussion. In minority populations with low income, factors such as perceived control over pain and its effect on the outcome of patient function need to be considered. Improving
Perceived Control Over Pain
has the potential for improving patients’ feelings of life control and purpose or meaning in life, and psychological and physical functioning for adults living with pain.
Objective
This study tested a model of cancer‐related pain and functional status in African American patients, including beliefs about the ability to control pain as a key determinant of distress and ...functional status.
Methods
Baseline data from a randomised clinical trial consisting of clinical and patient‐reported outcomes were used. Participants were 228 African American patients experiencing moderate to severe pain within the past 2 weeks. The model comprised four latent constructs: pain, perceived control over pain, pain‐related distress and functional status. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the factor structure of the measurement model. Structural equation modelling was used to estimate direct and mediated effects.
Results
The measurement model fit well (RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = 0.05) with all loadings significant (p < 0.05). The structural model also fit well (RMSEA = 0.04, SRMR = 0.05). The complex mediated pathway from pain to functional status through perceived control over pain and pain‐related distress was strong and significant (specific indirect effect = −0.456, p = 0.004). Mediation by perceived control accounted for a 47% reduction of the effects of pain on functional status.
Conclusion
If these results hold up longitudinally, interventions to increase perceived control over pain have the potential to improve functional status by decreasing pain‐related distress.
Wounded soldiers often experience substantial pain, which must be addressed before returning to active duty or civilian life. The United States (US) military has instituted several guidelines and ...initiatives aimed at improving pain management by providing rapid access to medical care, and developing interdisciplinary multimodal pain management strategies based on outcomes observed both in combat and hospital settings.
To provide a narrative review regarding US military pain management guidelines and initiatives, which may guide improvements in pain management, particularly chronic pain management and prevention, for the general population.
A literature review of US military pain management guidelines and initiatives was conducted, with a particular focus on the potential of these guidelines to address shortcomings in chronic pain management in the general population.
The application of US military pain management guidelines has been shown to improve pain monitoring, education and relief. In addition, the US military has instituted the development of programs and guidelines to ensure proper use and discourage aberrant behaviours with regard to opioid use, because opioids are regarded as a critical part of acute and chronic pain management schemes. Inadequate pain management, particularly inadequate chronic pain management, remains a major problem for the general population in the US. Application of military strategies for pain management to the general US population may lead to more effective pain management and improved long-term patient outcomes.
Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and hospice agency policies and procedures direct nursing assessment and interventions for the care of persons with cancer-related pain. Guidelines assert ...that pain should be assessed from a holistic perspective that considers physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. In addition, guidelines maintain that hospice nurses should ascertain patient goals for pain management. Assessment and documentation of goals other than pain intensity goals is an area of nursing practice that has not been developed. Without inclusion of personally meaningful goals in pain assessment instruments, such goals cannot be routinely or consistently included in the hospice care plan. To address the assessment of pain and patient goals for pain management, this scenario-based article merges theoretical knowledge about pain from concept analyses with clinical guideline recommendations. Although research is needed to develop pain goal assessment tools, nurses can use this empirically based approach for asking about goals and integrating them into the plan of care.