The Effects of Walking Meditation on Depression and Quality of Life among Cancer Patients in a Long-Term Care Hospital
Chonnam Research Institute of Nursing Science February 28, 2021 DOI: 10.33527/nhi2021.26.1.53 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent control group and pretest-posttest design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 49 |
| Population | Cancer patients living in a long-term care hospital |
| Intervention | Walking meditation |
| Duration | 2-week walking meditation program |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Walking meditation significantly improved depression and quality of life in the experimental group from pretest to posttest, and significant differences in both outcomes were found between the walking meditation and control groups. The authors suggest the program can serve as an effective nursing intervention for cancer patients in long-term care hospitals. |
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of walking meditation on cancer patients suffering from depression and their quality of life (QoL) in a long-term care hospital.
Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group and a pretest-posttest design. Forty-nine cancer patients living in a long-term care hospital participated in the study. The experimental group (n=24) received the 2-week walking meditation program while the control group (n=25) received no such treatment. They all answered questionnaires on depression and QoL. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS PC+ 26.0 through paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and ANCOVA.
Results: There were significant differences in depression (paired t= −3.944, p =.001) and QoL (paired t=2.443, p =.023) in the experimental group on pretest-posttest. Also, there were significant differences in both depression (F=8.302, p =.001) and QoL (t=2.360, p =.024) between the two groups.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the walking meditation program has positive effects on the depression suffered by cancer patients as well as on their QoL in a long-term care hospital. Thus, this program can be utilized as an effective nursing intervention for cancer patients in long-term care hospitals.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on depression, most cited first.