[Mindfulness meditation in somatic medicine. A management tool for physical and psychological pain].
Revue medicale suisse – June 21, 2023
Source: PubMed
Summary
Mindfulness meditation has proven effective in helping individuals manage psychological and physical symptoms, yet its availability remains limited. At Lausanne University Hospital, three mindfulness programs were implemented for 120 participants dealing with HIV, cancer, or chronic pain. Despite scientific validation, challenges arose regarding participant engagement and the integration of these programs into a French-speaking clinical setting. Addressing these issues is crucial for expanding access to mindfulness practices in somatic care, ultimately benefiting patients' well-being and coping strategies.
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation is a mind-body approach that helps to cope with psychological or physical symptoms such as pain. To date, this approach is still not widely available to patients in our French-speaking somatic clinical settings, despite its scientific validation. This article describes three mindfulness meditation programs delivered at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) to people living with HIV, cancer or chronic pain. It highlights the issues related to the involvement of participants in these programs as well as those related to their implementation in a Swiss somatic, teaching French-speaking hospital.