A word about getting full text of articles

Some of the journal articles below are available in full text using the hyperlinks where available.   

Alternatively, you can enter the article’s DOI into Libkey and you should reach either the full text, or be taken to a page where you can send a request to the library for full text, with the relevant information already filled in.  Be aware that the first time you use Libkey, you’ll need to tell it which trust you work for so it can identify what you should have access to. 

Some articles may need an NHS OpenAthens account for full text access – create an account in a couple of minutes here.   

Effects of Mediterranean Diet or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Prevention of Small-for-Gestational Age Birth Weights in Newborns Born to At-Risk Pregnant Individuals – The IMPACT BCN Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA. 2021;326(21):2150-2160.

doi:10.1001/jama.2021.20178

Key Points

Question  Among pregnant individuals at high risk for small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns, is a Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction effective in preventing SGA at delivery?

Findings  In this randomized clinical trial that included 1184 individuals with singleton pregnancies, the percentage of newborns with birth weight below the 10th percentile was 14% in the Mediterranean diet group and 15.6% in the mindfulness-based stress reduction group, compared with 21.9% in the usual care group; both interventions resulted in a significantly lower percentage of SGA newborns compared with usual care.

Meaning  Structured interventions based on a Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction significantly reduced the risk of SGA newborns in individuals at high risk for this condition; however, the findings require replication, as well as assessment in additional patient populations, before concluding that these treatments should be recommended to patients.Abstract

Importance  Being born small for gestational age (SGA) is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality with no effective prevention or therapy. Maternal suboptimal nutrition and high stress levels have been associated with poor fetal growth and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective  To investigate whether structured interventions based on a Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction (stress reduction) in high-risk pregnancies can reduce the percentage of newborns who were born SGA and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Design, Setting, and Participants  Parallel-group randomized clinical trial conducted at a university hospital in Barcelona, Spain, including 1221 individuals with singleton pregnancies (19-23 weeks’ gestation) at high risk for SGA. Enrollment took place from February 1, 2017, to October 10, 2019, with follow-up until delivery (final follow-up on March 1, 2020).

Interventions  Participants in the Mediterranean diet group (n = 407) received 2 hours monthly of individual and group educational sessions and free provision of extra-virgin olive oil and walnuts. Individuals in the stress reduction group (n = 407) underwent an 8-week stress reduction program adapted for pregnancy, consisting of weekly 2.5-hour sessions and 1 full-day session. Individuals in the usual care group (n = 407) received pregnancy care per institutional protocols.

Main Outcomes and Measures  The primary end point was the percentage of newborns who were SGA at delivery, defined as birth weight below the 10th percentile. The secondary end point was a composite adverse perinatal outcome (at least 1 of the following: preterm birth, preeclampsia, perinatal mortality, severe SGA, neonatal acidosis, low Apgar score, or presence of any major neonatal morbidity).

Results  Among the 1221 randomized individuals (median [IQR] age, 37 [34-40] years), 1184 (97%) completed the trial (392 individuals assigned to the Mediterranean diet group, 391 to the stress reduction group, and 401 to the usual care group). SGA occurred in 88 newborns (21.9%) in the control group, 55 (14.0%) in the Mediterranean diet group (odds ratio [OR], 0.58 [95% CI, 0.40-0.84]; risk difference [RD], −7.9 [95% CI, −13.6 to −2.6]; P = .004), and 61 (15.6%) in the stress reduction group (OR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.46-0.94]; RD, −6.3 [95% CI, −11.8 to −0.9]; P = .02). The composite adverse perinatal outcome occurred in 105 newborns (26.2%) in the control group, 73 (18.6%) in the Mediterranean diet group (OR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.46-0.90]; RD, −7.6 [95% CI, −13.4 to −1.8]; P = .01), and 76 (19.5%) in the stress reduction group (OR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.49-0.95]; RD, −6.8 [95% CI, −12.6 to −0.3]; P = .02).

Conclusions and Relevance  In this randomized trial conducted at a single institution in Spain, treating pregnant individuals at high risk for SGA with a structured Mediterranean diet or with mindfulness-based stress reduction, compared with usual care, significantly reduced the percentage of newborns with birth weight below the 10th percentile. Due to important study limitations, these findings should be considered preliminary and require replication, as well as assessment in additional patient populations, before concluding that these treatments should be recommended to patients.

Symptom reduction in palliative care from single session mindful breathing: a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2021 Dec;11(4):433-439.

doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002382.

Abstract

Context: There has been increasing evidence of the role of mindfulness-based interventions in improving various health conditions. However, the evidence for the use of mindfulness in the palliative care setting is still lacking.

Objectives: The objective of our study was to determine the efficacy of a single session of 20 min mindful breathing in alleviating multiple symptoms in palliative care.

Methods: Adult palliative care in patients with at least one symptom scoring ≥5/10 based on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were recruited from September 2018 to December 2018. Recruited patients were randomly assigned to either 20 min mindful breathing and standard care or standard care alone.

Results: Forty patients were randomly assigned to standard care plus a 20 min mindful breathing session (n=20) or standard care alone (n=20). There was statistically significant reduction of total ESAS score in the mindful breathing group compared with the control group at minute 20 (U=98, n ₁ = n ₂ = 20, mean rank ₁ = 15.4, mean rank ₂ = 25.6, median reduction ₁ = 6.5, median reduction ₂ = 1.5, z=-2.763, r=0.3, p=0.005).

Conclusion: Our results provided evidence that a single session of 20 min mindful breathing was effective in reducing multiple symptoms rapidly for palliative care patients.

The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress and Burnout in Nurses

Image: Pixabay

J Holist Nurs. 2021 Dec;39(4):356-368.

doi: 10.1177/08980101211015818.

Abstract

Background: Occupational burnout related to stress in the workplace is experienced by nurses who are regularly confronted with trauma, suffering, and high workloads. Burnout can negatively impact patient care and have detrimental effects on nurses’ physical and mental health. Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs have been researched as a potential holistic intervention for reducing stress and burnout in nurses through cultivating present awareness, emotional regulation, and positive thinking. 

Purpose: This critical review of the literature explores current knowledge on the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on stress and burnout in nurses, examines gaps in the current literature, and provides recommendations for future research on this topic. 

Methods: Search terms included mindfulness, meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction , occupational stress, stress, burnout, and nurs*. Peer-reviewed research directly related to the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction on nurses experiencing stress and/or burnout was reviewed. 

Findings: Findings reveal evidence that mindfulness meditation is effective in decreasing stress and burnout in nurses. Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to significantly decrease stress, improve all aspects of burnout, and increase self-compassion and compassion satisfaction in practicing nurses. 

Conclusions: Mindfulness meditation has the potential to decrease stress and burnout in nurses by decreasing self-judgment and overidentification with experience, and by increasing resiliency, compassion, and emotional regulation.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Depressive Symptoms and Alcohol Craving in Individuals With Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder and Depression: A Systematic Review

J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2021 Dec;59(12):41-47.

doi: 10.3928/02793695-20210819-04.

Abstract

The co-occurrence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression is associated with a seven-fold increased risk of suicide. The purpose of the current systematic review is to synthesize the evidence of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on depression and alcohol craving in patients with comorbid AUD and depression. Electronic databases were searched using a combination of key words. Seven studies, investigating a total of 349 participants, were included. MBIs improved depression and alcohol craving among individuals with comorbid AUD and depression. Health care professionals can use MBI as adjunctive treatment for decreasing depression and alcohol craving. Future research is needed to explore how MBIs can be tailored to specific cultures and to document the longitudinal effectiveness of treatment. 

Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness in pediatric oncology – A review of literature

Complement Ther Med. 2021 Nov 19;63:102791.

doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102791.

Abstract

Purpose: Children and adolescents undergoing treatment for cancer are exposed to a wide variety of stressors both physical and mental. Not only adults but also children and adolescents increasingly practice yoga in a health-promoting manner and to cope with stressful situations.

Methods: A review of literature was conducted to present the current outcomes on yoga, meditation and mindfulness for children and adolescents who are affected by an oncological disease.

Results: Eight studies were identified that examined yoga treatment for children and adolescents with oncological diseases. Three studies were found on mindfulness in pediatric oncology. The studies summarized here suggest that yoga and mindfulness could help to improve quality of life, reduce fatigue, improve activity and fitness levels, improve sleep quality, increase appetite and decrease anxiety in various stages of the disease and its treatment. The reviewed studies showed that yoga and mindfulness-based interventions for children and adolescents with oncological illnesses are feasible in different settings and are well received.

Conclusions: The results of the studies suggest that yoga and mindfulness may help to support children and adolescents during and after oncological treatment. Based on the current body of evidence it is not possible to draw conclusions about the efficacy of yoga and mindfulness-based interventions in pediatric oncology patients. Research must meet this challenge to develop suitable designs to further and better investigate the effects of yoga and mindfulness in children and adolescents with oncological diseases.