Patient Perceptions of Integrating Meditation-based Interventions in Office-based Opioid Treatment with Buprenorphine: A Mixed-methods Survey.

Among 72 patients prescribed buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in office-based opioid treatment, 90.3% reported practicing at least one category of meditation-based intervention (MBI) on at least a daily (39.6%) or weekly (41.7%) basis. The most common type was spiritual meditation (67.7%), followed by nonmantra meditation (61.3%), mindfulness meditation (54.8%), and mantra meditation (29.0%). Interest in MBI was motivated by improving general health and well-being (73.4%), treatment outcomes (60.9%), and relationships (60.9%). Perceived benefits included reduced anxiety or depression (70.3%), pain (62.5%), substance use (60.9%), cravings (57.8%), and withdrawal symptoms (51.6%). The findings suggest high acceptability for adopting MBI in this population.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Recent findings support the provision of meditation-based interventions (MBIs) in primary care. However, the acceptability of MBI among patients prescribed medications for opioid use disorder (eg, buprenorphine) in primary care remains unclear. This study assessed experiences and preferences for adopting MBI among patients prescribed buprenorphine in office-based opioid treatment (OBOT). This 23-item, semistructured cross-sectional survey was administered by study staff to patients enrolled in OBOT (N = 72) and consisted of demographic and clinical characteristics, perceptions, experiences with MBI, and preferred strategies to access MBI to support their treatment on buprenorphine. Most participants reported practicing at least 1 category of MBI (90.3%) on at least a daily (39.6%) or weekly (41.7%) basis including (1) spiritual meditation (eg, centering prayer; 67.7%); (2) nonmantra meditation (eg, comfortable posture; 61.3%); (3) mindfulness meditation (eg, mindfulness-based stress reduction; 54.8%); and (4) mantra meditation (eg, transcendental meditation; 29.0%). Interest in MBI was motivated by improving one's general health and well-being (73.4%), treatment outcomes with medications for OUD (eg, buprenorphine; 60.9%), and relationships with others (60.9%). Perceived clinical benefits of MBI included reduced anxiety or depression symptoms (70.3%), pain (62.5%), illicit substance or alcohol use (60.9%), cravings for illicit substances (57.8%), and opioid-related withdrawal symptoms (51.6%). Findings from this study indicate high acceptability for adopting MBI among patients prescribed buprenorphine in OBOT. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy of MBI to improve clinical outcomes among patients initiating buprenorphine in OBOT.