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. 2024 Dec 18:13:27536351241308176.
doi: 10.1177/27536351241308176. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

Tele-Mindfulness Program for Mental Health in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A quasi-experimental study

Giada Milani  1 , Luigi Zerbinati  2   3 , Luigi Grassi  2   3 , Giulia Fregna  4 , Nicola Schincaglia  1 , Andrea Baroni  1   5 , Nicola Lamberti  5 , Fabio Manfredini  1   5 , Sofia Straudi  1   5
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Tele-Mindfulness Program for Mental Health in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A quasi-experimental study

Giada Milani et al. Adv Rehabil Sci Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Nearly half of subjects after COVID-19 still experience symptoms after 12 weeks, as described in the Post-Covid Syndrome (PCS). Other than the physical alterations perceived, mental health disorders have been frequently reported. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) showed beneficial effects on psychological well-being in patients with respiratory dysfunctions, but they have been rarely tested in severe COVID-19 survivors.

Objective: In a quasi-experimental study, test the clinical and psychological effects of a 12-week Tele-MBI in previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients and analyze the feasibility of the intervention.

Methods: Subjects earlier hospitalized due to COVID-19 were enrolled 12 weeks after the infection onset, they were assigned to the intervention group (TG) or to the control one (n-TG). Subjects enrolled in the TG attended a 12-week home-based T-MBI and patients of both groups received multimodal rehabilitation interventions according to their own therapeutic needs. Mental health (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, sleep quality, self-efficacy, and resilience) and quality of life were detected before and after treatment. The feasibility of the T-MBI applied was also investigated.

Results: A total of 88 subjects were included (44 in the TG and 44 in the n-TG; 63.6% males, mean age 64.4 ± 10.6). Most characteristics were similar between groups at the baseline; TG patients showed greater improvements in different psychological metrics (anxiety, depression, PTSD, resilience, and self-efficacy) compared to n-TG while no differences were found for perceived quality of life. T-MBI was well-accepted by patients.

Conclusion: Tele-Mindfulness program seems effective in reducing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and increasing resilience and self-efficacy in subjects who required hospitalization due to COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; tele-rehabilitation; Mindfulness; mental health; psychological well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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