Integrating mindfulness in supportive cancer care: a cohort study on a mindfulness-based day care clinic for cancer survivors
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Supportive Care in Cancer, 2015, 23 (10), pp. 2945 - 2955
- Issue Date:
- 2015-10-31
Closed Access
| Filename | Description | Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| \\utsfs.adsroot.uts.edu.au\homes\staff\108848\Desktop\NONE.pdf | Published Version | 272.4 kB |
Copyright Clearance Process
- Recently Added
- In Progress
- Closed Access
This item is closed access and not available.
© 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a mindfulness-based day care clinic group program for cancer survivors on health-related quality of life and mental health; and to investigate which psychological variables are associated with changes in health variables. Methods: One hundred seventeen cancer survivors (91.0 % female; mean age 53.9 ± 10.7 years; 65.0 % breast cancer; mean time since diagnosis 27.2 ± 46.5 months) participated in an 11-week mindfulness-based day care clinic group program, 6 h per week. The intervention incorporated mindfulness-based meditation, yoga, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and lifestyle modification. Outcome measures including health-related quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), depression and anxiety (HADS); and psychological variables including life satisfaction (BMLSS), mindfulness (FMI), adaptive coping styles (AKU), spiritual/religious attitudes in dealing with illness (SpREUK), and interpretation of illness (IIQ) were assessed before, after, and 3 months after the intervention. Results: Using mixed linear models, significant improvements in global health status, physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, and social functioning were found. Cancer-related symptoms, including fatigue, pain, insomnia, constipation, anxiety, and depression, also improved significantly. Mindfulness, life satisfaction, health satisfaction, all coping styles, all spiritual/religious attitudes, and interpretation of illness as something of value increased; interpretation of illness as punishment decreased significantly (all p < 0.05). Improved outcomes were associated with increases in psychological variables, mainly life satisfaction, health satisfaction, and trust in medical help (R2 = 7.3–43.6 %). Conclusion: Supportive mindfulness-based interventions can be considered as an effective means to improve cancer survivors’ physical and mental health. Functional improvements are associated with improved satisfaction and coping styles.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: