Mindfulness-based stress reduction in an integrated care delivery system: one-year impacts on patient-centered outcomes and health care utilization.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs have demonstrated clinical effectiveness for both mental and physical health conditions. Less research exists on health services utilization, self-efficacy, or work productivity outcomes. A prospective single cohort design evaluated an 8-week MBSR program for 38 Kaiser Permanente Colorado members with chronic pain, chronic illness, or stress-related problems. Repeated measures analyzed at 8 weeks and 1 year showed significant improvements in self-reported mental and physical function, pain, psychological symptoms, and self-efficacy, but not in work productivity. There were also significant decreases at 1 year for visits to: primary care, specialty care, and the Emergency Department, and for hospital admissions.
PMID: 25662520 [PubMed - in process] PMCID: PMC4206164