Mindfulness and Tai Chi for Sleep, Fatigue, and Pain in Distressed People After Cancer Treatment: A Partially Randomized Patient-Preference Comparative Effectiveness Trial.
Yan Ma, Linda E. Carlson, Jennifer M Jones, Oluwaseyi A Lawal, Devesh Oberoi, Katherine-Ann Piedalue, Daniel Santa Mina, Michael Speca, Peter M. Wayne
Journal of Clinical Oncology September 16, 2026 DOI: 10.1200/jco-25-01967 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial with patient choice component Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 587 |
| Population | Distressed cancer survivors with multiple types and stages of cancer, average age 60.7 years |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR) Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Compared with waitlist controls, both MBCR and TCQ improved fatigue (mean improvements of 3.66 and 3.42 points) and pain interference (over 1 point) at post-intervention, and TCQ also improved sleep quality by 1.9 points. The two interventions did not differ from one another, and preference status did not affect outcomes. Changes in sleep, fatigue, and pain interference were mildly to moderately correlated. |
Abstract
Sleep, fatigue, and pain are common symptoms in cancer survivors. Mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR) and Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) are beneficial for these conditions, but have not been studied together. The Mindfulness and Tai Chi for Cancer Health (MATCH) study was designed to incorporate innovative design features, including patient choice, while evaluating two interventions for distressed cancer survivors with predefined secondary outcomes, including sleep, fatigue, and pain. Participants chose one of the two interventions or chose to be randomly assigned into either intervention, then were further randomly assigned into immediate intervention or waitlist groups. We evaluated the efficacy of MBCR and TCQ, whether participants' choices affected intervention effects, and correlations among changes in sleep, fatigue, and pain. Participants (N = 587) were on average 60.7 years, with multiple types and stages of cancer. At postintervention, compared with waitlist controls, the TCQ group had an average improvement of 1.9 points on the sleep quality scale, which remained statistically significant compared with controls after adjustment for age, sex, cancer stage, and preference (P = .004). Compared with waitlist controls, both MBCR and TCQ groups had significantly improved fatigue with mean improvements of 3.66 and 3.42 points, respectively (MBCR: P = .036. TCQ: P = .043) and over 1 point of change on pain interference (MBCR: P = .029. TCQ: P = .002). MBCR and TCQ did not differ from one another. Preference status did not affect outcomes. Significant correlations were observed among changes in sleep, fatigue, and pain interference, suggesting mild to moderate associations. Compared with waitlist controls, MBCR and TCQ both improved fatigue and pain interference at post-intervention, and TCQ also improved sleep quality. Correlations across outcomes highlight the importance of addressing clusters of cancer symptoms within a whole-person health framework.
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 8
- Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory Annual Review of Psychology September 14, 2022
- Mindfulness and Tai Chi for Cancer Health (MATCH) Study: Primary Outcomes of a Preference-Based Multisite Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology June 12, 2025
- Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction training on rumination in patients with breast cancer. BMC Women's Health December 28, 2022
- The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cancer-related fatigue in oncology patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis PLoS One July 14, 2022
- Evidence of psychological and biological effects of structured Mindfulness-Based Interventions for cancer patients and survivors: A meta-review. Psycho-Oncology November 2021
and 3 more in the library