Evaluation of the acceptability and clinical utility of the Arabic language Mindfulness CD

Project Number
PS39361

Project Status
Completed

Chief Investigators
Lisa Woodland SESLHD, Hend Saab SESLHD, Elizabeth Comino CPHCE, Fakhrul Islam CPHCE, Julie McDonald CPHCE

Project Rationale

There is limited information about the use of Mindfulness with Arabic speaking communities. The two case studies which have reported on the effectiveness of mindfulness based therapy with Arabic speaking clients, found that the approach was effective in reducing psychological distress, did not clash with cultural values, and gave clients an opportunity to learn skills that could be useful in the future. The purpose of this project was to determine whether an Arabic language Mindfulness CD represents an acceptable and useful self-management resource for Arabic speaking adults residing in the St George area. 

Project Aims

The aims of this project were to:

  1. Evaluate the acceptability of the Arabic language Mindfulness CD
  2. Evaluate the clinical utility of the Arabic language Mindfulness CD

Evaluation questions:

  1. Is the Arabic Mindfulness CD culturally acceptable to members of the Arabic speaking community?
  2. Does the use of the Mindfulness exercises on the CD over a five week period reduce psychological distress?
  3. Is any reduction in psychological stress maintained over a 12 week period?

Project Design and Method

The evaluation was conducted as a single site pre-post study based at the St George Community Mental Health Centre between October 2014 and October 2015. Participants were Arabic speaking adults, aged between 18 and 65 years living in or accessing services within the St George area who participated in the Mindfulness Program over a five week period.

Measures used in the evaluation included:

  1. A client-based questionnaire seeking demographic characteristics,
  2. Qualitative information comprising participants’ comments of their experience of listening to the CD as well as general comments collected as a part of self-completed evaluation,
  3. A log of when participants listened to each track on the CD, and for how long,
  4. Questions about the acceptability and knowledge of Mindfulness - participants answered a series of eight questions about the acceptability of the Mindfulness CD and their knowledge of and attitudes to Mindfulness at recruitment and at one week and 12 weeks following completion of the Program,
  5. The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21) - The DASS21 has been translated into Arabic.
  6. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) - A cross-cultural validation study has supported the reliability and validity of the Arabic translation of the K10.

Baseline data was collected at enrolment into the Mindfulness program. Follow up data was collected at one and 12 weeks after participants completed the five week program.