Taiwanese Mindfulness Program for Long Term Residents With Type 2 Diabetes

This study reported the first randomized controlled trial of Mindfulness-based reduction stress for residents with type 2 diabetes newly moved into long-term care facilities on depression, relocation stress and HbA1c levels. The results highlighted the benefits of using strategies in the MBSR-T to promote good quality of diabetes care for residents in long-term care.

The contents of the 9-week MBSR-T program were adapted from an initial MBSR program by the Taiwan Mindfulness Association for older people with diabetes (Chinese version). The program consisted of a 1.5-hour session each week for 9-weeks for a group of 8 to 10 participants. Each session included 30 minutes of mindful deep breathing relaxation and 60 minutes of practicing mindfulness activities.

A total sample of 140 was determined. All eligible individuals in each long-term care facility were randomized by computerized random numbers, sequence generated by an independent statistician with one-to-one ratio for allocating to either control or intervention group. All participants were blinded to group allocation. Participants in the control group received usual care, while participants in the intervention group received the MBSR-T in addition to the usual care. All sessions in the MBSR-T were delivered by a trained mindfulness registered nurse who had received additional trainer qualification of mindfulness. A research assistant was blinded to the study protocol, who was employed to undertake data collection at baseline, at 3, 6, and 9 weeks (T0, T1, T2, T3).