Mindfulness-based stress reduction for integrative cancer care: a summary of evidence
Open accessAbstract
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the relevant existing evidence, and critically appraises the use of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in cancer care. Furthermore, a meta-analysis was conducted in order to investigate the effect of MBSR on quality of life (QoL), mood, and distress. Besides 6 reviews (5 systematic, 1 meta-analytic) which are reported separately, a total of 19 original research papers fully met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. The 19 original papers consisted of 5 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), 4 non-randomised controlled trials (NRCTs), 9 observational studies (OS) and 1 two-arm observational study. The included outcome measures were QoL, mood, and distress. Cohen's effect size d was computed for each category. Estimating the effect on QoL, a total of n = 248 patients out of 6 studies was included and the overall effect size was 0.29 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17-0.40; p ≤ 0.00005). Calculating the effect on mood, a total of n = 411 patients out of ten studies were included, and the overall effect size was 0.42 (95% CI 0.26-0.58; p < 0.0001). Reduction in distress revealed an overall effect size of 0.58 (95% CI 0.45-0.72; p < 0.0001; n = 587 patients out of 15 studies). MBSR programmes can improve QoL and mood, and reduce distress in cancer patients. However, there is an urgent need for more high quality RCTs implementing adequate controls, longer follow-up periods, sufficient samples sizes, clear descriptions of patients' psychological profiles, and the accompanying utilisation of qualitative measures.
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A recent meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials reported that among 15 studies (N = 587 cancer patients), overall distress level was reduced by approximately 40% from baseline following an 8-week mindfulness intervention.
“A recent meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials reported that among 15 studies (N = 587 cancer patients), overall distress level was reduced by approximately 40% from baseline following an 8-week mindfulness intervention [34].”
From Being present: A single-arm feasibility study of audio-based mindfulness meditation for colorectal cancer patients and caregivers (2018) · cites this paper as [34]
The Results section reports reduced distress across 15 studies involving 587 cancer patients. It reports a standardized effect size of 0.58, not a 40% reduction from baseline; the Abstract also says the review included observational and non-randomized studies, so these were not all randomized clinical trials. Some interventions lasted eight weeks, but that duration does not describe every included study. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAlthough a higher percentage of men enrolled compared to most prior mindfulness interventions for integrative cancer care, the evaluable study sample included a greater proportion of younger (age <50), female, White and Latino or Hispanic patients relative to the underlying population.
“Although a higher percentage of men enrolled compared to most prior mindfulness interventions for integrative cancer care [34], the evaluable study sample included a greater proportion of younger (age <50), female, White and Latino or Hispanic patients relative to the underlying population [44, 53].”
From Being present: A single-arm feasibility study of audio-based mindfulness meditation for colorectal cancer patients and caregivers (2018) · cites this paper as [34]
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References 68 · Cited by 112
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- Authors
- Musial, F., Büssing, A., Heusser, P., Choi, K.-E., & Ostermann, T.
- Affiliations
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NO)
- Witten/Herdecke University (DE)
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
- Venue
- Forschende Komplementärmedizin / Research in Complementary Medicine
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2011
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 192-202
- ISSN
- 1021-7096 (ISSN-L)
- 1661-4127
- 1661-4119
- OpenAlex
- W2127358116
- Cited by
- 112
- References
- 68
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 1.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- de
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Forschende Komplementärmedizin / Research in Complementary Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- mindfulness-based stress reduction, cancer patients, integrative cancer care, quality of life, mood, psychological distress, complementary therapy
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Medical Oncology, Neoplasms, Stress, Psychological, Meditation, Mind-Body Therapies, Integrative Medicine
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