None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This research aims to investigate the effects on distress of a modified mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) program for patients about to undergo radiation therapy (RT) for the first time. Research questions: 1. Do mindfulness groups significantly reduce the distress (anxiety, depressive symptoms) of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy? 2. What is the feasibility of routine delivery of an adjunctive psycho-oncology intervention (like the mindfulness groups) in the radiation oncology setting? 3. Are open groups (i.e. groups where members can start and finish at different times) an appropriate way for delivering mindfulness groups to this population? 4. If the mindfulness groups intervention is shown to be effective how can it be generalised to benefit a wider population e.g. significant others and carers of the patient, and patients who are receiving other treatments like chemotherapy.
Interventions
Mindfulness meditation groups.
Mindfulness meditation involves skills for regulating attention with the aim of being in the present moment with a non-judgemental and curious attitude. The intervention consists of a pre-group orientation session for participants (90-min) followed by 7-weekly classes (2 hours duration). Groups will be open i.e. not of fixed membership where participants start and finish at different times. The group program is modified and adapted from Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation groups. Mindfulness meditation involves skills for regulating attention with the aim of being in the present moment with a non-judgemental and curious attitude. The intervention consists of a pre-group orientation session for participants (90-min) followed by 7-weekly classes (2 hours duration). Groups will be open i.e. not of fixed membership where participants start and finish at different times. The group program is modified and adapted from Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) work.
Sponsors
St. George Hospital
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Adult cancer patients with heterogeneous cancers who are about to commence radiation therapy for the first time.
Exclusion criteria
Previous radiation therapy treatment. Language difficulties. Brain neoplasms. Medically unfit to attend 8 weeks of outpatient group therapy. Current mental illness with no treatment in place. Current substance abuse.
Outcome results
None listed