Quieting the Mind, Healing the Body: Guided Imagery and Mindfulness Meditation among Cancer Patients

Among 148 patients with stage II and III cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy in a South Indian hospital, 15-minute twice-daily sessions of guided imagery or mindfulness meditation over four weeks significantly improved heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, salivary amylase levels, pain, depression, anxiety, and stress compared to a control group. Mindfulness meditation showed relatively greater improvement in psychological outcomes, while guided imagery was comparably effective for physiological stabilization. Both are low-cost, feasible non-pharmacological interventions that can enhance holistic care in oncology and palliative settings.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Objectives: Cancer and its treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, adversely affect physiological stability and psychological well-being, leading to symptoms like pain, anxiety, depression, and stress. Mind–body interventions such as guided imagery (GI) and mindfulness meditation (MM) may help alleviate these symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of GI and MM on selected bio-physiological and psychological parameters among patients with cancer. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was adopted among 148 patients with stage II and III cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy in a tertiary care hospital in South India during 2023–2024. Participants were assigned to GI (n=49), MM (n=49), and control (n=50) groups. Interventions were administered for 15 minutes twice daily over four weeks. Physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, salivary amylase) and psychological variables (pain, depression, anxiety, and stress) were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Bonferroni post hoc test, with significance set at p <0.05. Results: Both GI and MM groups showed statistically significant improvements in physiological and psychological parameters compared to the control group ( p <0.001). Significant reductions were observed in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, salivary amylase levels, pain, depression, anxiety, and stress. MM demonstrated relatively greater improvement in psychological outcomes, while GI showed comparable effectiveness in physiological stabilization. Conclusion: Guided imagery and mindfulness meditation appear to be effective, feasible, and low-cost non-pharmacological interventions that improve physiological relaxation and psychological well-being among patients with cancer. Integration of these interventions into palliative and oncology nursing practice can enhance holistic patient care.