Self-monitoring of a stress reduction technique using wrist-worn counters

J Healthc Qual. 2007 Jan-Feb;29(1):45-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1945-1474.2007.tb00175.x.

Abstract

In a study of 59 veterans and healthcare workers, the reliability of a self-monitoring method used to track the frequency of a spiritually oriented stress reduction technique was assessed. During a 5-week program of silently repeating a mantram (a spiritual word or phrase) to lower stress and anger and improve spiritual well-being, portable wrist-worn counters were used to track daily mantram practice sessions. All outcomes significantly improved in the hypothesized direction. Mantram practice tracked by the counters was highly correlated (r = .84) with retrospective self-reports, indicating that such counters may be a reliable self-monitoring tool and could be used to measure a variety of other behavioral health quality indicators.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • California
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation*
  • Self Stimulation*
  • Spirituality*
  • Stress, Psychological / prevention & control*
  • Wrist