NCT05154266

Effectiveness of 'Taking it Further' (TiF) Programme

Effectiveness of 'Taking it Further' (TiF) Programme Compared to Waitlist Control in the Promotion of Well-being and Mental Health: A Randomised Controlled Trial With Graduates of MBCT and MBSR

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 168 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Oxford · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Meta-analyses have demonstrated that mindfulness-based programmes are more effective than no treatment across different populations and desired outcomes yet there is limited evidence on how to sustain these benefits beyond the traditional eight-week courses. The 'Taking it Further' (TiF) programme was developed by the University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre to help reinforce and deepen one's mindfulness practice to promote well-being and mental health for life. The proposed study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this programme in graduates of MBCT/MBSR on well-being and mental health outcomes and explore the mediators (i.e. mindfulness, decentring, and self-compassion) through which this programme has an effect over the course of twelve weeks using a randomised controlled trial with a waitlist control. The planned research is part of an overall effort to optimize treatment effects and the long-term effectiveness of mindfulness-based programmes.

Detailed description

Participants that expressed an interest in taking part in the study were screened for research inclusion/exclusion criteria and for course suitability. Research inclusion/exclusion was assessed by the lead researcher whereas course suitability was assessed jointly by the lead researcher and a trained mindfulness teacher at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre (OMC). Eligible participants were invited to complete baseline measures that assessed the primary outcome and mediator (well-being and mindfulness respectively) around two weeks before the start date and then again around one week before the start date to establish a stable baseline. For one of these online questionnaires, participants were instructed to complete an online orientation video to ensure continued eligibility. Within a few days of the start date, participants were randomised to the treatment (online TiF programme) or wait-list control group. One day before the start date, all participants were invited to complete a battery of questionnaires which assessed the outcome measures (well-being, psychological quality of life, depression, anxiety), mediator measures (mindfulness, self-compassion, decentring), and an additional measure regarding perceived expectations about the mindfulness course. Participants were then invited to complete a battery of questionnaires at weeks 4, 8, and 12 (post-intervention). For the battery of questionnaires for weeks 4 and 8, participants completed the same measures assessed at baseline with additional questions that assessed: the amount of practice, quality of practice, side effects of practice, and overall experience. For week 12 (post-intervention), participants completed the same measures as weeks 4 and 8 with additional questions that assessed the perceived credibility of the mindfulness programme, perceived quality of mindfulness teaching, and potential harm. Data collection was divided into two phases, with the first phase running from June-September and the second phase running from October-December 2021. The TiF courses were run online and the surveys themselves were also administered online.

Conditions

• Mindfulness

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Taking it Further	This programme is offered to individuals who have already completed a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR). In this programme, participants explore weekly themes (i.e. 'Responding not reacting' and 'Taking care of ourselves, taking care of others'). These themes reinforce the learning from the eight-week MBCT/MBSR courses whilst also providing new learning opportunities. The programme makes some of the dimensions that are implicit in MBCT/MBSR more explicit; for example, the cultivation of attitudes of mindfulness (such as equanimity, joy, and kindness). These attitudes of mindfulness require a foundational mindfulness practice and thus this is an additive learning theme from traditional MBCT/MBSR programmes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-06-28
• Primary completion: 2021-12-21
• Completion: 2021-12-21
• First posted: 2021-12-13
• Last updated: 2022-01-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom