Effect of a 5-Minute Mindfulness-of-Gratitude Practice on Suffering and Spiritual Well-Being in Palliative Care Inpatients: A Randomized Controlled Study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 42487163 · doi:10.1177/10499091261471078
What was done
In a parallel-group, open-label randomized controlled trial, 40 adult palliative care inpatients with an Overall Suffering Score of 4/10 or higher were randomized 1:1 to either a scripted 5-minute mindfulness-of-gratitude practice or a 5-minute supportive-listening conversation. Both interventions were delivered by the same trained clinician. Overall suffering, total suffering, and spiritual well-being (assessed using the FACIT-Sp12 scale) were measured immediately before and after the session.
What was found
All 40 patients completed the protocol (20 per arm). Compared with supportive listening, the mindfulness-of-gratitude arm showed greater reductions in overall suffering (median change -2.5 vs -1.0; P < 0.001) and total suffering (-2.0 vs -1.0; P = 0.037), and greater improvement in FACIT-Sp12 score (+2.0 vs 0.0; P = 0.001). No adverse events were reported.
Why it matters
An ultra-brief, 5-minute bedside gratitude mindfulness exercise can provide immediate relief from multidimensional suffering and improve spiritual well-being in palliative care inpatients compared to supportive listening.
Limits
The sample size was small (40 participants). The trial was open-label, both arms were delivered by a single clinician, and outcomes were assessed only immediately post-intervention, leaving long-term durability and generalizability unknown.