Study Comparing Mindfulness Breathing, Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback, and Cognitive-Behavioral Pain Education for Shoulder Surgery Patients to Reduce Postoperative Pain and Improve Recovery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of three different types of bio-psychosocial support for patients preparing for shoulder surgery who experience ongoing pain after surgery. The study compares brief mindfulness-based breathing, heart rate variability biofeedback HRV-BF, and cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation to understand which method may better help with postoperative pain, shoulder function, emotion, sleep quality, quality of life, cognitive function, and brain activity. This is a randomized, single-blind study led by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Participants will be assigned randomly to one of three groups a 20-minute mindfulness-based breathing training session, a 20-minute HRV biofeedback session using paced breathing, or a 20-minute cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation session focused on coping strategies. Each intervention is delivered once before surgery. The study will follow patients for 24 weeks after surgery to assess the effects of these treatments on various outcomes. During the study, participants will have several outpatient follow-up appointments at baseline, immediately after training, and at 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks after surgery. At these visits, researchers will measure pain levels using the Visual Analogue Scale, shoulder function, sleep quality, emotional state, quality of life, cognitive abilities, heart rate variability, objective sleep parameters, and brain activity through electroencephalography. Additional assessments at baseline will include pain-related fear and catastrophizing. This comprehensive monitoring aims to capture the treatments impact over time.

Comparing Mindfulness-based Breath Training and Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Shoulder Surgery Patients in the Postoperative Pain.