Implementation Outcomes From a Pilot Study of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT) as a Chronic Pain Treatment Modality in an Integrative Health Clinic.

Abstract

Background: As regulation of opioid prescribing evolves, primary care and pain clinics are shifting to provide non-pharmacological and interdisciplinary chronic pain care. An under-utilized but growing area of health care for chronic pain is complementary and integrative health (CIH). However, there is limited availability of CIH approaches within the health care system. Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT) is an evidence-based mind-body therapy, with a manualized protocol, that focuses on developing interoceptive sensibility for improved self-awareness and nervous system regulation. Prior MABT research shows MABT improves self-report and physiological indicators of interoception as well as mental and physical symptoms of distress.

Methods: This pilot single-group study used a hybrid implementation-effectiveness design and mixed methods to study implementation strategies and outcomes for bringing MABT into an integrative chronic pain clinic. Administrative data, staff surveys, and focus groups were used to understand the implementation process and outcomes (see Additional files 2, 3, and 4). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze survey and administrative data. A content analysis approach was used to analyze qualitative data from focus groups.

Results: 7 staff surveys were administered over the 24-month study period and showed high acceptability and appropriateness that increased over time. Adoption, feasibility, and sustainability were also high. Clinicians made 70 referrals to MABT, 56 patients scheduled a session, 41 patients completed at least one session, and 71% of these completed the protocol. Focus groups identified MABT as a therapy that filled a gap in services, particularly for patients with a lack of body awareness and high emotion dysregulation.

Conclusion: Implementation of MABT was highly successful in an integrative health clinic focused on chronic pain treatment.

Clinicaltrialsgov registration: NCT05289024 Registered March 11, 2022 https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05289024?term=NCT05289024&rank=1.