Feasibility and Effectiveness of an Interprofessional Mindfulness-Informed Group-Based Intervention for Treatment of Overactive Bladder: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition that negatively affects quality of life. Urinary urgency is the dominant symptom and behavioral therapy is the first-line approach. Mindfulness practices have been proposed for urgency management, but studies on mindfulness for OAB have not included components of behavioral therapy commonly used in clinical practice. Objectives: The primary objective was to examine the feasibility of implementing a novel mindfulness-informed group-based behavioral therapy intervention for OAB, using behavioral therapy specific to OAB. The secondary purpose was to examine the potential clinical utility of the program. Study Design: Pilot feasibility study. Methods: This was a single-arm pilot study using a convenience sample. The intervention was developed by 2 physical therapists and 1 licensed psychologist. Women with OAB symptoms were recruited from the community for a 6-week, 2 h/wk group-based program that included information on bladder health, urinary tract function, and mindfulness-informed practices. Participants were asked to engage in mindfulness activities between sessions. Results: Five women fit the inclusion criteria and 4 completed the study, attending all 6 sessions (retention rate: 80%). Time and resources required to deliver the intervention were deemed feasible. All participants showed improvements on some or all self-reported symptoms questionnaires. Conclusions: This novel program appears to be feasible and shows the potential for clinical utility. Future studies should include a longer recruitment period to achieve a larger sample size and should compare this intervention with other established interventions for OAB.