Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a mindfulness-based day care clinic group program for cancer survivors on health-related quality of life and mental health; and to investigate which psychological variables are associated with changes in health variables.
Methods
One hundred seventeen cancer survivors (91.0 % female; mean age 53.9 ± 10.7 years; 65.0 % breast cancer; mean time since diagnosis 27.2 ± 46.5 months) participated in an 11-week mindfulness-based day care clinic group program, 6 h per week. The intervention incorporated mindfulness-based meditation, yoga, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and lifestyle modification. Outcome measures including health-related quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), depression and anxiety (HADS); and psychological variables including life satisfaction (BMLSS), mindfulness (FMI), adaptive coping styles (AKU), spiritual/religious attitudes in dealing with illness (SpREUK), and interpretation of illness (IIQ) were assessed before, after, and 3 months after the intervention.
Results
Using mixed linear models, significant improvements in global health status, physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, and social functioning were found. Cancer-related symptoms, including fatigue, pain, insomnia, constipation, anxiety, and depression, also improved significantly. Mindfulness, life satisfaction, health satisfaction, all coping styles, all spiritual/religious attitudes, and interpretation of illness as something of value increased; interpretation of illness as punishment decreased significantly (all p < 0.05). Improved outcomes were associated with increases in psychological variables, mainly life satisfaction, health satisfaction, and trust in medical help (R 2 = 7.3–43.6 %).
Conclusion
Supportive mindfulness-based interventions can be considered as an effective means to improve cancer survivors’ physical and mental health. Functional improvements are associated with improved satisfaction and coping styles.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to dedicate this manuscript to the memory of Ulla Franken, PhD. Dr Franken was responsible for the conduction of the day care clinic program during the course of this study. The authors thank Jörg Meibert, MSc for his help in conducting the day care clinic program during this study.
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None. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review their data if requested.
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Dobos, G., Overhamm, T., Büssing, A. et al. Integrating mindfulness in supportive cancer care: a cohort study on a mindfulness-based day care clinic for cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 23, 2945–2955 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2660-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2660-6