Mindfulness-Based stress reduction in early palliative care for people with metastatic cancer: A mixed-method study.
Stefano Poletti, Giorgia Razzini, Roberto Ferrari, Maria Pia Ricchieri, Giorgio Alfredo Spedicato, Antonella Pasqualini, Cristina Buzzega, Fabrizio Artioli, Kyriakoula Petropulacos, Mario Luppi, Elena Bandieri
Complementary Therapies in Medicine December 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102218 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed-method study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | People with metastatic cancer between 18 and 75 years old, Performance Status <60% according to Karnofsky scale, referred to an early palliative care service |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, with a 4.5-hour session between the 6th and 7th weeks and 0.5 hour daily home practice |
| Topics | End-of-life distress Meditation |
| Keywords | Early palliative care Integrative healthcare Interpretive-phenomenological analysis Metastatic cancer Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Key points | MBSR integrated into early palliative care is feasible, well accepted, and helps metastatic cancer patients develop an accepting attitude, face anxiety and cancer pain, and reconnect with values and spiritual beliefs. |
Abstract
To explore the impact of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention for people with metastatic cancer integrated in Early Palliative Care (EPC). Mixed-method study. EPC Service integrated with Oncology Unit, Carpi General Hospital, Italy from January to October 2017. The MBSR intervention took place inside the hospital. Study participation was offered to 25 consecutive people referred to the EPC service. people with metastatic cancer between 18 and 75 years old; informed consent. Performance Status <60% according to Karnofsky scale; active psychiatric disorder. 20 patients were included in the study. The adapted program consists of 8 meetings for 2.5 h once a week, a 4.5 h session between the 6th and 7th weeks and 0.5 h home practice daily. The following mindfulness practices were included during the training: formal sitting meditation, body scan, light yoga, walking meditation, and Aikido exercises. Participants were provided with materials for home practice. A qualified MBSR instructor conducted the program. Sessions were attended by a clinical psychologist and a physician trained in meditation, together with the palliative nurse as facilitators. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed on 16 participants. In addition, pre-post measures of cancer pain and mood state were collected. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted on a subset of 8 participants at the end of the study and analysed using the Interpretative-Phenomenological approach. MBSR attendance to meetings and adherence to home practice were 75%. MBSR intervention helped participants to develop an accepting attitude in respect to metastatic cancer disease helping them to face anxiety and cancer pain. MBSR improves self-regulation of mood state engendering feelings of compassion MBSR program supports participants in questioning and reconnecting with their values and spiritual beliefs. A Mindfulness intervention integrated into EPC setting is feasible, well accepted and could help metastatic cancer patients to control cancer pain together with an opportunity of emotional and spiritual relief.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on end-of-life distress, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Pain regulation during mindfulness meditation: Phenomenological fingerprints in novices and experts practitioners European Journal of Pain April 2, 2021
- Mindful breathing for cancer pain: efficacy of a single 20-minute session - a randomised controlled study. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care August 20, 2024
- The Source of Life: Meditation and Spirituality in Healthcare for a Comprehensive Approach to The COVID-19 Syndemic. Pastoral Psychology March 15, 2022
- Turning toward mortality: yoga's savasana as a salutogenic practice for engaging with death anxiety. Frontiers in Public Health 2026
- Pain regulation during mindfulness meditation: phenomenological fingerprints in novice and expert practitioners November 7, 2020
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