Mindfulness-based stress reduction feasible in young cancer survivors

A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention is acceptable and feasible in young adults with cancer, though recruitment may be difficult, reports a new study.

The study included 126 eligible survivors who were made to accomplish a survey about acceptability and feasibility. MBSR sessions lasted for 2.5 hours and ran for 8 weeks, after which patients participated in a half-day retreat. Sessions were administered by qualified MBSR instructors.

Initially, 597 participants were identified and approached for recruitment, though only 26.5 percent (n=151) consented. Only those who underwent complete baseline measurement were included in the final sample, of whom 67 were randomized to MBSR and 59 were put on waitlist. Finally, only 48 participants enrolled into the MBSR course.

Despite difficulties in recruitment, researchers found that the intervention itself was largely feasible, with no major barriers to delivery identified. Acceptability was also high, with majority of those who declined to participate citing distance (41.5 percent) and time constraints (21.7 percent) as reasons. Only 4.9 percent expressed a lack of interest in MBSR.

Moreover, 75 percent (n=36) of those who did enrol into the programme were able to finish it, with a median MSBR attendance of 18 hours. After the course, 77.6 percent of the participants found MBSR to be very logical and 72.4 percent said that it would be “very useful in raising the quality of their wellbeing.” Majority were open to recommending the course to a friend.

In terms of efficacy, MBSR participants showed significantly greater increases in self-kindness over time compared with their waitlist comparators (p=0.031). There were also within-group improvements in sleep, intolerance of uncertainty, and post-traumatic growth relative to baseline.