Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on quality of life in women breast cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials involving 1,620 breast cancer survivors found that mindfulness-based interventions produced a small but statistically significant improvement in quality of life compared with standard care (SMD = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.53). The certainty of evidence was moderate due to heterogeneity and imprecision. Most trials used Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction protocols, and the authors suggest that mindfulness practices may be recommended as part of comprehensive survivorship care, though benefits may be attenuated in early-stage disease and limited evidence exists for metastatic patients.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Breast cancer survivors frequently experience acute and chronic psychological distress, which negatively affects quality of life. Mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as integrative supportive care strategies to improve psychosocial outcomes in this population. To evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness practices compared with standard care in improving quality of life among women surviving breast cancer. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including women aged ≥18 years at any breast cancer stage who had completed primary treatment, had no psychiatric disorders, and no previous mindfulness experience. Twelve RCTs met eligibility criteria, comprising 1620 participants-849 assigned to mindfulness interventions and 771 to standard care. Risk of bias was predominantly low across studies. Mindfulness-based interventions resulted in a small but statistically significant improvement in quality of life (SMD = 0.36; 95 % CI: 0.20 to 0.53). According to the GRADE approach, the certainty of evidence was rated as moderate due to moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 59.9 %) and serious imprecision, although no publication bias was detected. Considerable heterogeneity across interventions and outcomes, the predominance of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) protocols, the limited inclusion of metastatic patients, and potentially attenuated benefits in individuals with early-stage disease may have influenced effect estimates. Mindfulness practices are associated with meaningful improvements in quality of life in breast cancer survivors and, given their accessibility and applicability, may be recommended as part of comprehensive survivorship care.