Being Present: A single-arm feasibility study of audio-based mindfulness meditation for colorectal cancer patients and caregivers.
Chloe E Atreya, Ai Kubo, Hala T Borno, Blake Rosenthal, Matthew Campanella, John P Rettger, Galen Joseph, I Elaine Allen, Alan P Venook, Andrea Altschuler, Anand Dhruva
PLoS One 2018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199423 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-arm pilot study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 53 |
| Population | Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy, with or without a participating family caregiver; 41 participants evaluable |
| Intervention | Audio-based mindfulness meditation program |
| Duration | 8-week program |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Registration | NCT02423720 |
| Key points | The Being Present audio-based mindfulness meditation program was feasible and acceptable for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and their caregivers, with initial evidence of efficacy. Compared with baseline, post-intervention surveys showed reduced distress (p = 0.01) and anxiety (p = 0.03) and increased non-reactivity (p<0.01) and feeling at peace (p<0.01); 71% of interviewees reported benefit, and benefits appeared greater in patient-caregiver pairs. |
Abstract
A metastatic cancer diagnosis is associated with high levels of distress in patients and caregivers. Mindfulness interventions can reduce distress and improve quality of life in cancer patients. However, standard mindfulness training relies on in-person instruction, which is often not practical for either patients receiving chemotherapy or their caregivers. In the Being Present single arm pilot study, we designed and tested an 8-week audio-based mindfulness meditation program for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy with or without a participating caregiver. The study accrued 33 of 74 (45%) eligible patients consenting together with 20 family caregivers (53 participants total) within nine months. Forty-one participants were evaluable (77%); 10 of 12 cases of attrition were attributable to hospitalization or death. Median participant age was 51 (range 21-78 years); 38% were men. Baseline levels of distress were similar in patients and caregivers. The top reasons for participation cited in pre-intervention interviews were to increase relaxation/calm, improve mood/emotions, and reduce stress/anxiety. In measures of adherence, 59% of responses to weekly texts asking: "Have you practiced today?" were "Yes" and 59% of interviewees reported practicing >50% of the time. Compared to baseline, post-intervention surveys demonstrated significantly reduced distress (p = 0.01) and anxiety (p = 0.03); as well as increased non-reactivity (p<0.01), and feeling at peace (p<0.01). Post-intervention qualitative interviews, where 71% of participants reported benefit, were consistent with quantitative findings. In the interviews, participants spontaneously described reduced stress/anxiety and increased relaxation/calm. Benefits appeared to be accentuated in patient-caregiver pairs as compared to unpaired patients. Seventy-nine percent of participants reported plans for continued practice after study completion. We conclude that the Being Present audio-based mindfulness meditation program is of interest to, feasible, and acceptable for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and caregivers, with initial evidence of efficacy. These results will guide plans for a follow-up study. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02423720.
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 11
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation Combined With BrainLink Intelligent Biofeedback Instrument on Pancreatic Cancer Patients Under Chemotherapy. Brain and Behavior December 1, 2024
- Mindfulness-Based Group Medical Visits: Strategies to Improve Equitable Access and Inclusion for Diverse Patients in Cancer Treatment. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health 2024
- Implementation Readiness and Initial Effects of a Brief Mindfulness Audio Intervention Compared With a Brief Music Control During Daily Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Pilot Study. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health 2024
- Online mindfulness interventions in the care of people with physical and mental health conditions: a scoping review. BMJ Open July 18, 2025
- Laying the Foundation for iCANmeditate : A mixed methods study protocol for understanding patient and oncologist perspectives on meditation medRxiv August 22, 2023
and 6 more in the library
Cites 13
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse Psychotherapy Research March 1, 2003
- Psychological benefits for cancer patients and their partners participating in mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Psycho-Oncology November 16, 2009
- Feasibility of the mobile mindfulness-based stress reduction for breast cancer (mMBSR(BC)) program for symptom improvement among breast cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology February 1, 2018
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction added to care as usual for lung cancer patients and/or their partners: A multicentre randomized controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology December 2017
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Advanced Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology January 20, 2017
and 8 more in the library