Efficacy of mindful meditation in adjunct to a pulmonary rehabilitation program in improving functional capacity and quality of life in post-treated pulmonary tuberculosis patients: A randomized controlled trial (Study Protocol)

Abstract

Background

Post-treated pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) frequently leads to long-term impairments in lung function, endurance, and mental well-being. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs aim to restore functional capacity but may not sufficiently address psychological distress. Mindful meditation, when integrated with PR, may offer enhanced recovery by addressing both physical and emotional deficits [1,2].

Methods

We plan to conduct this study at a single hospital, where 51 people who recently completed TB treatment will be invited to participate. Each person will be randomly placed into one of two groups. One group will follow a regular rehab program, while the other will follow the same program with added daily meditation sessions. The rehab will last for four weeks. We’ll check each person’s walking ability and quality of life [5,6], and also note changes in their breathing, oxygen levels, and vital signs [7].

Expected Results: People who do both meditation and rehab are likely to feel and function better than those who only do rehab. We hope this combined approach gives more balanced physical and mental recovery [1,2].

Conclusion

If adding meditation works well, it could become part of rehab for others recovering from TB. This might help patients feel more energetic and positive after their illness [3,4].