Factors influencing the effects of the mindfulness-based interventions of patients with substance abuse: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

OBJECTIVE: This article aims to provide the experiences of mindfulness treatments from the perspectives of patients with a history of substance abuse. DATA SOURCE: Peer-reviewed articles on 5 databases, namely, PubMed, PsychINFO, Medline, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library, between the year of 2000 and 2023. STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Studies were included if they were published in the English language and reported on qualitative studies that directly engaged patients with experiences of substance abuse and mindfulness treatments. DATA EXTRACTION: After our initial search, 5355 studies were reviewed by title and abstract, consequently, 10 studies were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Meta-ethnography were used in this study. Data were obtained from the quotations from participants and text under the heading “results” or “findings” from the included 10 studies. RESULTS: Effective mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) influence recovery from substance abuse. Four themes were identified as factors influencing the MBI treatment effect. They were (1) engaging in mindfulness: entry and retention, (2) perceived benefits of MBIs, (3) implementation of treatment group and (4) maintenance of treatment effect. CONCLUSION: This article examines the scientific literature to date and presents the evidence on the factors that influentially impact the effect of MBIs in patients with substance abuse. The findings of this study should be helpful in guiding clinical practice, policy, and future research focused on the treatment effect of MBIs for person with substance use.