Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a studied and clinically applied mindfulness meditation technique used to improve health and quality-of-life for patients suffering from chronic physical and mental health problems in the U.S. It was initiated in 1979 at the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Currently, more than 200 MBSR programs are offered in healthcare settings throughout the US, including medical centers, hospitals, university health services and alternative health centers. Research has shown MBSR decreases physical pain, as well as less-beneficial psychological manifestations (e.g., anxiety, anger, temper outbursts, etc). Meanwhile, MBSR participants often reported experiencing other personal benefits, such as better sleep, weight-loss, greater self-awareness, greater peace of mind, better communication experiences, improvements in the domain of interpersonal relationships, etc. Generally speaking, people who complete an MBSR program become more accepting and open to those aspects of life over which they have no control, developing more endurance to stress and life-challenges.

To better understand the relationship between MBSR and improved health, a study was conducted on the health center utilization patterns of inner-city patients who completed an MBSR program at the Community Health Center in Meriden (CHC/Meriden). The study was conducted by analyzing the frequency of health center visits and patient diagnoses. The eight-week MBSR program at CHC/Meriden was taught in English and Spanish in 1993, providing a variety of mindfulness meditation practices involving breathing, walking, eating and other activities to improve awareness of body and mind. The goal was to teach mechanisms that would help students cope with aversive situations via consciously chosen responses, rather than automatic reactions.

The MBSR program study at CHC/Meriden included a total of 73 patients. Among them were 47 established patients who formed the primary focus of the study. The 47 received healthcare at CHC/Meriden for at least 1 full year before taking the MBSR program, and continued to use the facility as their primary healthcare provider for at least 1 full year after. The data analysis of this study took consideration of variables, such as patients’ age-range, sex, language, type of health insurance, and diagnoses, among others. Diagnoses are roughly categorized into 3 groups: chronic care, episodic (or “acute”) care, and well-adult (or “routine”) care. The time period during which patients took the MBSR program is also taken into account.

The research shows a significant decrease in the number of total and chronic care visits for those who attended the MBSR program, especially for the 36 Spanish-speaking established patients. However, there were no significant changes in the episodic and well-adult healthcare visits. This may be due to the health center’s practice of routinely scheduling appointments for patients. Furthermore, decreases in the total visits and chronic care visits resulted in significantly less overall healthcare expenditure, demonstrating that the MBSR program is also cost-effective.

Roth, B.¹ and T.-W. Stanley². “Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and Healthcare Utilization in the Inner City: Preliminary Findings,” Alternative Therapies, Vol 8, No. 1, 60-66, Jan/Feb 2002

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