The Role of Mindfulness in Hemodialysis Patients: A Scoping Review

Abstract Objectives Hemodialysis is an essential life-sustaining therapy for kidney failure patients, who frequently develop diverse psychological and physical symptoms. Mindfulness is a promising psychological construct, and multiple intervention programs developed from this construct can serve as viable complementary treatments; however, the implementation protocols of such mindfulness-derived programs for hemodialysis patients remain unclear. This scoping review synthesized available evidence on implementation protocols, delivery characteristics, and clinical effects of varied mindfulness-derived intervention programs targeting hemodialysis patients. Method Following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 38 English studies published from 2000 to 2025 were screened from seven electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, CINAHL Plus, APA PsycINFO, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science). Results Available evidence indicated mindfulness-derived intervention programs improved patients’ mental health and physical symptoms, and modified variants of these programs also achieved favorable outcomes across different age groups. Conclusions This review summarizes existing mindfulness-derived intervention regimens and provides actionable implications to advance relevant research and inform hemodialysis clinical care, in addition to pinpointing prevailing research limitations.