Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy for Oncology Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
WenMin Wu, JingYi Zhang, Yu Ye, FangPing Duan, JiaLang Wang, Wei Huang, Yun Gao
Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing April 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1111/wvn.70132 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 90 |
| Population | Oncology nurses |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Measures | Stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, mindfulness levels (specific instruments not named) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Fatigue Intervention Mindfulness‐based art therapy Oncology nurse Stress |
| Key findings | Both Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction significantly improved stress, physiological markers, and mindfulness versus controls. MBSR reduced depression more (β=-2.980, 95% CI: -5.427, -0.533), while MBAT reduced fatigue more (β=-11.582, 95% CI: -20.615, -2.550) and had higher adherence (93.3% vs. 73.3%) and satisfaction (3.27 vs. 2.40). |
Abstract
Oncology nurses are frequently subjected to significant psychological stress due to the demanding nature of cancer care, which negatively impacts their mental and physical health as well as the quality of patient care. Although Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction has been demonstrated to be effective in alleviating stress, practitioners often encounter barriers such as limited engagement and difficulty maintaining regular practice. To enhance engagement and adherence, we integrated art elements into the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction framework, creating the Mindfulness-Based art therapy program, and evaluated its effectiveness among oncology nurses. A three-arm randomized controlled trial. 90 oncology nurses participated (Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy group = 30, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction group = 30, waitlist controls group = 30) in an 8-week program. Stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and mindfulness levels were assessed at baseline, immediately after the fourth week of intervention, and immediately after the intervention concluded. Compliance and satisfaction were evaluated using attendance rates and satisfaction questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze general data; intervention effects were compared using one-way ANOVA and generalized estimating equations, and compliance and satisfaction were compared using independent samples t-test. Both Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction significantly improved stress, physiological markers, and mindfulness vs. controls. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction better reduced depression (β = -2.980, 95% CI: -5.427, -0.533, p = 0.017), while Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy was superior for fatigue (β = -11.582, 95% CI: -20.615, -2.550, p = 0.012). Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy had higher adherence (93.3% vs. 73.3%, p < 0.05) and satisfaction (3.27 ± 0.45 vs. 2.40 ± 0.52, p = 0.01). For oncology nurses, Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy is as effective as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for improving stress and mindfulness, while providing greater adherence, satisfaction, and more consistent fatigue reduction. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2300078124 (http://www.chictr.org.cn), 30/11/2023.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy on Healthy Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing September 4, 2018
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on the psychological well-being of nurses: A systematic review. Applied Nursing Research 2022
- Experiences of Clinical Clerkship Students With Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A Qualitative Study on Long-Term Effects. Frontiers in Psychology 2022
- Biobehavioral utility of mindfulness-based art therapy: Neurobiological underpinnings and mental health impacts Experimental Biology and Medicine 2020
and 2 more in the library