Improving patient-centered mental health promotion in primary care in vulnerable communities through mindfulness training in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Frontiers in medicine January 1, 2024 Débora Silva Teixeira, Sandra Fortes, Celia Kestenberg et al. 8 citations
A mindfulness-based health promotion program adapted for Brazil's public health system was tested in nine groups in Rio de Janeiro primary care units. Of 62 mostly low-income women participants, 80% had chronic conditions, including anxiety (42%) and depression (35%). After eight weeks, anxiety and depression improved significantly, and quality of life improved in psychological, physical, and social domains. Participants reported using mindfulness practices for insomnia and emotional distress, and involving family members helped create space for meditation at home. Mindfulness was seen as a complement to medication and therapy. The intervention proved feasible and effective for psychosocial support in low-resource primary care settings.