Implementation considerations of key knowledge users for building online mindfulness-based interventions for people with multiple sclerosis.
Ashvene Sureshkumar, Dorothy Luong, Sarah Munce, Mark Bayley, Monika Kastner, Jillian Scandiffio, Nanette Lai, Gregory Feng, Jiwon Oh, Andrea D Furlan, Abhimanyu Sud, Anthony Feinstein, Robert Simpson
Disability and rehabilitation April 16, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2492312 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPeople 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.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative descriptive study with integrated knowledge translation approach Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 29 |
| Population | People with multiple sclerosis, care partners, MS clinicians, and MBI instructors |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Implementation Multiple sclerosis Online |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Four themes emerged for implementing online MBIs for PwMS: daily mindfulness integration, clinician awareness and advocacy, validating group experiences, and sustained engagement resources. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can effectively reduce stress in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Online MBIs address access barriers, but large-scale implementation from the perspectives of key knowledge users remains understudied. This study explored the implementation considerations of PwMS, care partners, MS clinicians and MBI instructors for building online MBIs for PwMS. A qualitative descriptive design with an integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach. Virtual semi-structured interviews explored the perspectives of PwMS (n = 10), care partners (n = 3), MS clinicians (n = 8), and MBI instructors (n = 8). An inductive thematic analysis approach was used. Four themes were identified: (1) daily mindfulness: structuring and conceptualizing mindfulness for PwMS, (2) unlocking access through enhanced clinician awareness and advocacy: building pathways to MBIs for PwMS, (3) validating mindfulness experiences: the importance of MBI group composition and instructor interactions for PwMS, and (4) sustained engagement: resources to create and navigate MBIs for PwMS. PwMS valued diverse participant groups and control over tailoring MBIs to their needs. However, guidance from a clinician may be needed to foster self-agency for PwMS. MBIs serve a multifaceted role for PwMS, extending beyond the diagnosis. Shared decision-making amongst knowledge users can enhance flexible programming of online MBIs.