Effect of Heartfulness Meditation on Anxiety and Perceived Pain in Patients Undergoing Impacted Third Molar 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.