Patients' Perception of a Brief Web- and Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Pain Following Discharge After Total Joint Arthroplasty: Qualitative Description.
Geraldine Martorella, Adam Wesley Hanley, Kathryn Elizabeth Muessig
PMID 40768766WHAT IT FOUND
Patients recovering from joint replacement found a brief, self-guided mindfulness app helpful for managing pain at home.
They liked the short sessions and phone access, but struggled to focus when pain was severe or if they doubted mindfulness would work.
Key findings
01Participants used mindfulness techniques like body scans and breathing to shift attention away from pain, finding it easier to cope when they accepted pain as temporary rather than fighting it.
02The remote, asynchronous format was valued for fitting into daily life and allowing practice during pain spikes, though some found it hard to stay engaged without a live guide.
03Adherence was hindered by high pain levels, fatigue, and initial skepticism about whether mindfulness could actually help with physical pain.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was homogeneous (mostly older, White, female adults), limiting generalizability to other demographics. Only 16 of the 18 participants completed the post-intervention assessment, and those who dropped out were not interviewed, potentially missing reasons for non-adherence. The study reports perceptions of acceptability, not clinical outcomes like pain reduction or opioid use, so it does not prove the intervention works. Participants were recruited from a single center, and the intervention was self-guided without live support, which may not reflect real-world clinic delivery. The analysis did not account for how much time participants actually spent practicing, so it is unclear if those who engaged more had different perceptions.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by non-U.S. government funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these positive perceptions as evidence that mindfulness reduces pain or improves function. This study only reports what patients thought about the intervention's acceptability; it did not measure clinical outcomes, and the participants were those who agreed to complete the trial, so it does not show whether the intervention works for the average patient.