The Effects of a Mindfulness Meditation Program on Quality of Life in Cancer Outpatients: An Exploratory Study
Yu-Yun Chang, Li-Yu Wang, Chia-Yu Liu, Tsai-Ju Chien, I-Ju Chen, Chung-Hua Hsu
Integrative Cancer Therapies October 23, 2021 DOI: 10.1177/1534735417693359 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Exploratory study with non-randomized assignment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 69 |
| Population | Taiwanese cancer outpatients with various cancer diagnoses |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Duration | 3 monthly sessions, with 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Mindfulness meditation significantly improved quality of life scores in Taiwanese cancer outpatients, and improvements persisted at three-month follow-up. |
Abstract
Objective . Numerous studies have investigated the efficacy of mindfulness meditation (MM) in managing quality of life (QoL) in cancer populations, yet only a few have studied the Asian population. The aim of this exploratory study is to evaluate the effect of a MM program on the QoL outcomes in Taiwanese cancer outpatients. Methods . Patients with various cancer diagnoses were enrolled and assigned to the MM group and usual care (UC) group. The meditation intervention consisted of 3 sessions held monthly. The outcomes of the whole intervention were measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument. Results . A total of 35 participants in the MM group and 34 in the UC group completed the study. The results showed that the postintervention scores were significantly higher than the preintervention scores in the MM group. In the UC group, there was no significant difference between preintervention and postintervention scores, except for the lower environment domain scores. There was no significant difference between the follow-up scores and postintervention scores in the MM group, indicating that improvement can be maintained for 3 months after completing the MM course. Conclusions . The present study provides preliminary outcomes of the effects on the QoL in Taiwanese cancer patients. The results suggest that MM may serve as an effective mind–body intervention for cancer patients to improve their QoL, and the benefits can persist over a 3-month follow-up period. This occurred in a diverse cancer population with various cancer diagnoses, strengthening the possibility of general use.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Effect of Mindfulness Dhikr Breathing Therapy for Insomniacs on Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal June 26, 2023
- Meditation in Motion: Sport Type and Meditation Level Shape Gut Microbiota Profiles in Aikido and Tai Chi Practitioners Microorganisms January 24, 2026
- Effects of Vipassana Insight Meditation on Quality of Life and Plasma Endogenous Beta-endorphin Level in Registered Meditators Practicing Meditation at the Well-established Meditation Centres in Selangor Acta Scientific Medical Sciences July 1, 2023
- ACTing with Mindfulness for Pain (AMP): A pilot randomized controlled trial of an integrated acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness meditation program. Behaviour Research and Therapy September 1, 2025
- Impact of Meditation-Based Lifestyle Practices on Mindfulness, Wellbeing, and Plasma Telomerase Levels: A Case-Control Study. Frontiers in Psychology March 4, 2022
Cites 18
- A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Clinical Trial: The Effect of a Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Program on Mood and Symptoms of Stress in Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine September 1, 2000
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- How long does a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program need to be? A review of class contact hours and effect sizes for psychological distress Journal of Clinical Psychology March 23, 2009
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction as supportive therapy in cancer care: systematic review Journal of Advanced Nursing September 29, 2005
and 13 more in the library