Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for lung cancer patients and their partners: Results of a mixed methods pilot study

Abstract

Background:Lung cancer patients and partners show high rates of impaired quality of life and heightened distress levels. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction has proven to be effective in reducing psychological distress in cancer patients. However, studies barely included lung cancer patients.Aim:We examined whether Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction might be a feasible and effective intervention for patients with lung cancer and partners.Design:Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a training in which mindfulness practices are combined with psycho-education to help participants cope with distress. In this mixed methods pilot study, questionnaires on psychological distress and quality of life were administered before, directly after and 3 months after the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training, in combination with semi-structured interviews.Setting/participants:Patients with lung cancer and partners were recruited at one tertiary care academic medical centre. A total of 19 lung cancer patients and 16 partners participated in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training.Results:Most patients were diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer. Vast majority completed the training. Those receiving anti-cancer treatment did not miss more sessions than patients who were not currently treated. Patients and partners felt positive about participating in a peer group and with their partner. Among participants no significant changes were found in psychological distress. Caregiver burden in partners decreased significantly after following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. The qualitative analysis showed that the training seemed to instigate a process of change in participants.Conclusion:The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training seemed to be feasible for patients with lung cancer and their partners. A randomized controlled trial is needed to examine the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in reducing psychological distress in lung cancer patients and partners.

A Pilot Mobile-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Patients and Their Informal Caregivers

“…Second, our study is one of the few mindfulness intervention studies that also included patients' informal caregivers (Birnie, Garland, & Carlson, 2010; Schellekens et al, 2014; Schellekens et al, 2017; van den Hurk, Schellekens, Molema, Speckens, & van der Drift, 2015). As the number of individuals living with cancer increases, from 14 million in 2012 to a projected 18 million by 2022, the number of informal caregivers will grow in parallel (de Moor et al, 2013).…”

The implementation of mindfulness-based interventions and educational interventions to support family caregivers of patients with cancer: A systematic review

“…36 Of the reviewed studies, only a limited number examined the effectiveness of MBIs on the well-being and burden of FCs of patients with cancer. 5,22,23,29,30,37 Although these studies were few in number, they produced positive results as feasible, acceptable, and effective strategies for enhancing the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of…”

A qualitative investigation of the experience of participation in Mindfulness‐based Intervention for IVF‐ET (MBII) with Chinese women undergoing first IVF‐ET

“…The clinical individuals who practice these skills may experience reductions in a variety of symptom (Baer, 2003;Hofmann, Sawyer, Witt, & Oh, 2010) and improvement in QoL (Van Dam, Sheppard, Forsyth, & Earleywine, 2011). Meanwhile, by directing their attention to the "here and now," practitioners are able to let go of fears regarding the future or ruminations about the past (Shapiro, Astin, Bishop, & Cordova, 2005;van den Hurk et al, 2015). In this way, the women learn to see their habitual reactions to infertility and IVF-ET treatment stressors and to cultivate healthier, more adaptive ways of responding to them.…”