People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), their care partners, MS clinicians, and mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) instructors identified four key themes for implementing online MBIs: structuring mindfulness to fit daily life, improving clinician awareness and advocacy to build referral pathways, ensuring validating group experiences through diverse participant composition and skilled instructor interactions, and providing resources for sustained engagement. PwMS valued having control to tailor MBIs to their needs and preferred diverse participant groups, though clinician guidance may be needed to foster self-agency. Shared decision-making among all knowledge users can enhance flexible online MBI programming.
A virtual Sahaj Samadhi Meditation program did not significantly outperform an active control (Health Enhancement Program) in reducing depressive symptoms among people with chronic pain and moderate depression. Within the meditation group, depressive symptoms decreased by an average of 3.97 points on the PHQ-9 at 12 weeks and 4.96 points at 24 weeks, both exceeding the minimal clinically important difference, while the control group showed no significant change. The trial enrolled 108 participants, with 89 randomized. The findings suggest potential benefits of the meditation program, but larger trials under non-pandemic conditions are needed to confirm effectiveness.