
Effect of Heartfulness Meditation on Anxiety and Perceived Pain in Patients Undergoing Impacted Third Molar Surgery
A randomized controlled trial found that a single session of Heartfulness meditation significantly reduced intraoperative anxiety in patients undergoing impacted third molar (wisdom tooth) surgery.
Main Goal and Fundamental Concept:
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether a single session of Heartfulness meditation could reduce intraoperative anxiety and perceived pain in patients undergoing impacted third molar (wisdom tooth) surgery. The core hypothesis was that Heartfulness meditation, as a psychological intervention, would alleviate acute anxiety and pain perception during the surgical procedure.
Technical Approach:
This prospective interventional study involved 60 participants scheduled for impacted third molar surgery. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups:
- Heartfulness Meditation Group (26 participants): Received a session of Heartfulness meditation before the surgical procedure.
- Control Group (34 participants): Did not receive any meditation intervention.
Anxiety and pain levels were assessed using standardized tools:
- Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): Measures state (STAI-S) and trait (STAI-T) anxiety.
- Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS): Assesses dental-specific anxiety.
- Numerical Rating Scale (NRS): Evaluates perceived pain intensity.
Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test, Unpaired T-test, Pearson correlation) to compare outcomes between groups.
Distinctive Features:
This study is notable for integrating a non-pharmacological, mindfulness-based intervention—Heartfulness meditation—into the perioperative management of dental surgery patients. Unlike other studies that focus on long-term meditation practices, this research assessed the immediate effects of a single meditation session, highlighting its potential for rapid anxiety reduction in clinical settings.
Experimental Setup and Results:
- Design: Randomized controlled trial with two groups (meditation and control).
- Intervention: A single session of Heartfulness meditation administered preoperatively.
- Assessments: Anxiety and pain levels measured using STAI, MDAS, and NRS scales.
Key Findings:
- Intraoperative Anxiety (STAI-S): Significantly lower in the meditation group compared to the control group (P < 0.002).
- Trait Anxiety (STAI-T): Positive correlation with state anxiety levels.
- Dental Anxiety (MDAS) and Pain Perception (NRS): No significant differences between groups.
Advantages and Limitations:
Advantages:
- Demonstrated that a brief, single session of Heartfulness meditation can effectively reduce intraoperative anxiety.
- Utilized validated assessment tools to measure psychological and pain-related outcomes.
- Offers a cost-effective, non-invasive intervention that can be easily implemented in clinical practice.
Limitations:
- The study did not find significant effects on dental-specific anxiety or pain perception.
- Small sample size may limit the generalizability of the findings.
- The study focused solely on immediate effects; long-term benefits of the intervention were not assessed.
Conclusion:
The study concludes that a single session of Heartfulness meditation is effective in reducing intraoperative anxiety in patients undergoing impacted third molar surgery. However, it does not significantly affect dental-specific anxiety or perceived pain levels. These findings suggest that Heartfulness meditation can be a valuable adjunct in managing surgical anxiety, though further research with larger sample sizes and assessments of long-term effects is warranted.