Methods: This study utilizes a quasi-experimental, repeated-measures design with participants randomly assigned by cohort to one of two groups: a mindfulness practices (including self-compassion) intervention group or a wait-list control group (i.e. treatment as usual). Fifty participants (25 per group) are being recruited from two sites with a phase II cardiac rehabilitation program in Southeastern North Carolina. Participants in the mindfulness intervention group receive eight weeks of assigned interventions in a group by a doctorally prepared psychiatric clinical nurse specialist who is also board certified as an advanced holistic nurse. Participants are asked to practice their mindfulness intervention for 20 minutes each day. They also receive a book on mindfulness and an MP3 player with soft music and audio-guided meditations on mindfulness and self-compassion. Participants in the control group receive treatment as usual, which includes general information on stress management and deep breathing exercises. All participants are given a journal to document their daily home practice and any important event related to their daily life and emotional state. For both groups, outcome measures are collected at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks (i.e., 4 weeks post intervention completion) and 24 weeks (i.e., 3 months post intervention completion). Outcomes include anxiety measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory short version (STAI), depression assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), anger measured with the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), hostility assessed with the hostility subscale of the Positive Affect and Negative Affect expanded version (PANAS-X; Watson & Clark, 1994), stress measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and health related quality of life measured by the MacNew Heart Disease Health Related Quality of Life questionnaire. Physiologic outcomes include body mass index and blood pressure. Rate of CR program completion will also be obtained.
Results: Pending completion of data collection and analysis.
Conclusion: Pending completion of data collection and analysis