A systematic review of qualitative evidence of cancer patients’ attitudes to mindfulness

Abstract

Mindfulness has been described as a non-elaborative, non-judgmental, present-centred awareness in which each thought, feeling or sensation is acknowledged and accepted. The aim of the present study was to systematically search and synthesise qualitative evidence of cancer patients' attitudes to mindfulness. A systematic review of qualitative evidence was conducted following the SPICE framework. All cancers were included. Medline, Cinahl, Science Direct, O-Alster and New Bank were searched from the first available year to August 2016 using the search terms; wellbeing, mindfulness, qualitative. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts; potentially relevant articles were retrieved and assessed independently by two reviewers. Data were extracted and quality assessed using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative research checklist. In total, 233 studies conducted between 2005 and 2015 were identified with six included in the final analysis. Four themes were identified: Coping strategies developed through mindfulness course; Positive outcomes of mindful practice; Challenges with engaging in mindful practice; and Group identification and shared experience. The current evidence supports the view that mindfulness is an effective intervention to help people adjust to living with and beyond cancer however, more qualitative work is needed in this area.

Relevance of mindfulness practices for culturally and linguistically diverse cancer populations

“…This is in line with findings from a systematic review of qualitative evidence of attitudes to mindfulness of Caucasian cancer patients from an Anglo‐Saxon background . Similar to our study, the review found that patients often encountered challenges in engaging with mindfulness techniques, but such techniques can assist in the identification of coping strategies .…”

“…Mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs) have shown promising evidence to improve the mental well‐being of cancer survivors . A review of qualitative studies found that MBIs provided effective coping strategies to help people adjust to living with and beyond cancer and led to positive outcomes such as reduced stress and anxiety, making time, creating space, and increased spirituality . However, this evidence was mainly based on people from Anglo‐Saxon cultures like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia and did not inform on the appropriateness of MBIs from other cultures.…”

“Yes, I have cancer, but I'm also lonely”; tackling a common problem in cancer care

“…What do patients think of these approaches? Tate, Newbury-Birch, and McGeechan (2018) undertook and systematic review of qualitative evidence and found that patients often encounter challenges in engaging with mindfulness techniques, but such techniques can help in identifying coping strategies; importantly, mindfulness techniques need to accommodate individual patients' characteristics and perspectives.…”

Exploring Cancer Patients’ Experiences of an Online Mindfulness-Based Program: A Qualitative Investigation

“…The call for better understanding the underlying mechanisms and processes of mindfulness practices has warranted the use of qualitative methodologies to explore cancer patient experiences and the effects of MBPs (Shennan et al 2011 ; Zimmermann et al 2018 ). Studies attempting to elucidate this have largely focused on women with breast cancer (Schellekens et al 2016 ; Tate et al 2018 ), with some exceptions (Kinner et al 2018 ; Mackenzie et al 2007 ). The majority of interventions followed the standard 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program (Kabat-Zinn 1990 , 2003 ; Tate et al 2018 ).…”

“…Studies attempting to elucidate this have largely focused on women with breast cancer (Schellekens et al 2016 ; Tate et al 2018 ), with some exceptions (Kinner et al 2018 ; Mackenzie et al 2007 ). The majority of interventions followed the standard 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program (Kabat-Zinn 1990 , 2003 ; Tate et al 2018 ). However, several studies have used modified MBPs incorporating elements of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) (Chambers et al 2012 ) and acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) (Kinner et al 2018 ).…”