Incorporation of Mindfulness Exercises to Reduce Anxiety During Urodynamic Testing: A Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Pilot Trial

Presents a study which aims to investigate the the emotional and physical impact of short-term (MBSR-BE) breathing exercise before undergoing urodynamic testing (UDS). This a single-center investigator-blinded randomized parallel-group randomized control pilot trial. Eligibility criteria were age 18 years and participants were excluded if were pregnant or had neurogenic bladder. Statistical analysis was performed using JMP version 12.3. A total of 27 patients were enrolled, 13 patients were randomized to the MBSR-BE arm and 14 to the control arm. After UDS, anxiety was similar between groups, as were pain scores. Fear was statistically lower in the mindfulness group. Patient-perceived physical discomfort after UDS was similar between groups. Emotional discomfort was ranked as worse than physical discomfort, by15% of participants in the control group, this did not reach significance. Equal number of subjects in both groups reported the test as being as expected. In this study, mindfulness breathing exercises did not reduce anxiety or pain. The MBSR-BE group reported significantly less fear than the control group. In addition, none of the patients in the MBSR-BE group reported their worst discomfort as emotional, whereas emotional discomfort was ‘‘the worst’’ as perceived by 15% in the control group. This study is limited by confounding effect with several patients in the control arm providing unsolicited feedback stating that they engaged in short naps or prayer while waiting in the quiet empty room that is not typically experienced in the busy clinic waiting area. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)