Joanne Brooker1,2, John Julian3, Jeremy Millar4,5, H Miles Prince5,6, Melita Kenealy5,6, Kirsten Herbert6, Annette Graham7, Robin Smith4,5, David Kissane1,7, Karen Taylor4,5, Mark Frydenberg5,6, Ian Porter4,5, Jane Fletcher6,7, Ian Haines5,6, Sue Burney1,7,8. 1. Szalmuk Family Psycho-Oncology Research Unit, Cabrini Health, 154 Wattletree Road, Malvern3144, Australia. 2. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia. 3. Thinking Healthy, Melbourne, Australia. 4. Alfred Health Radiation Oncology, 55 Commercial Road, Melbourne3004, Australia. 5. Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne3800, Australia. 6. Cabrini Health, 181 Wattletree Road, Malvern3144, Australia. 7. Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne3800, Australia. 8. School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton3800, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:Psychosocial interventions that mitigate psychosocial distress in cancer patients are important. The primary aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an adaptation of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program among adult cancer patients. A secondary aim was to examine pre-post-program changes in psychosocial wellbeing. METHOD: The research design was a feasibility and acceptability study, with an examination of pre- to post-intervention changes in psychosocial measures. A study information pack was posted to 173 adult cancer patients 6 months-5 years post-diagnosis, with an invitation to attend an eight-week group-based adaptation of the MSC program. RESULTS:Thirty-two (19%) consented to the program, with 30 commencing. Twenty-seven completed the program (mean age: 62.93 years, SD 14.04; 17 [63%] female), attending a mean 6.93 (SD 1.11) group sessions. There were no significant differences in medico-demographic factors between program-completers and those who did not consent. However, there was a trend toward shorter time since diagnosis in the program-completers group. Program-completers rated the program highly regarding content, relevance to the concerns of cancer patients, and the likelihood of recommending the program to other cancer patients. Sixty-three percent perceived that their mental wellbeing had improved from pre- to post-program; none perceived a deterioration in mental wellbeing. Small-to-medium effects were observed for depressive symptoms, fear of cancer recurrence, stress, loneliness, body image satisfaction, mindfulness, and self-compassion. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The MSC program appears feasible and acceptable to adults diagnosed with non-advanced cancer. The preliminary estimates of effect sizes in this sample suggest that participation in the program was associated with improvements in psychosocial wellbeing. Collectively, these findings suggest that there may be value in conducting an adequately powered randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of the MSC program in enhancing the psychosocial wellbeing of cancer patients.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES:Psychosocial interventions that mitigate psychosocial distress in cancerpatients are important. The primary aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an adaptation of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program among adult cancerpatients. A secondary aim was to examine pre-post-program changes in psychosocial wellbeing. METHOD: The research design was a feasibility and acceptability study, with an examination of pre- to post-intervention changes in psychosocial measures. A study information pack was posted to 173 adult cancerpatients 6 months-5 years post-diagnosis, with an invitation to attend an eight-week group-based adaptation of the MSC program. RESULTS: Thirty-two (19%) consented to the program, with 30 commencing. Twenty-seven completed the program (mean age: 62.93 years, SD 14.04; 17 [63%] female), attending a mean 6.93 (SD 1.11) group sessions. There were no significant differences in medico-demographic factors between program-completers and those who did not consent. However, there was a trend toward shorter time since diagnosis in the program-completers group. Program-completers rated the program highly regarding content, relevance to the concerns of cancerpatients, and the likelihood of recommending the program to other cancerpatients. Sixty-three percent perceived that their mental wellbeing had improved from pre- to post-program; none perceived a deterioration in mental wellbeing. Small-to-medium effects were observed for depressive symptoms, fear of cancer recurrence, stress, loneliness, body image satisfaction, mindfulness, and self-compassion. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The MSC program appears feasible and acceptable to adults diagnosed with non-advanced cancer. The preliminary estimates of effect sizes in this sample suggest that participation in the program was associated with improvements in psychosocial wellbeing. Collectively, these findings suggest that there may be value in conducting an adequately powered randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of the MSC program in enhancing the psychosocial wellbeing of cancerpatients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer; Depression; Fear of cancer recurrence; Mindfulness; Self-compassion
Authors: Angela Mifsud; Melissa J Pehlivan; Paul Fam; Maddison O'Grady; Annamiek van Steensel; Elisabeth Elder; Jenny Gilchrist; Kerry A Sherman Journal: Health Psychol Behav Med Date: 2021-05-21