Open AccessMindfulness Meditation for Oncology Patients: A Discussion and Critical Review
Author(s) -
Mary Jane Ott,
Rebecca Norris,
Susan BauerWu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
integrative cancer therapies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1552-695X
pISSN - 1534-7354
DOI - 10.1177/1534735406288083
Subject(s) - mindfulness , meditation , psycinfo , psychosocial , medicine , coping (psychology) , medline , alternative medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , intervention (counseling) , psycho oncology , integrative medicine , psychotherapist , health care , mindfulness based stress reduction , clinical psychology , psychology , psychiatry , nursing , philosophy , theology , pathology , political science , law , economics , economic growth
The purpose of this article is to (1) provide a comprehensive over view and discussion of mindfulness meditation and its clinical applicability in oncology and (2) report and critically evaluate the existing and emerging research on mindfulness meditation as an intervention for cancer patients. Using relevant keywords, a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and Ovid was completed along with a review of published abstracts from the annual conferences sponsored by the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society and the American Psychosocial Oncology Society. Each article and abstract was critiqued and systematically assessed for purpose statement or research questions, study design, sample size, characteristics of subjects, characteristics of mindfulness intervention, outcomes, and results. The search produced 9 research articles published in the past 5 years and 5 conference abstracts published in 2004. Most studies were conducted with breast and prostate cancer patients, and the mindfulness intervention was done in a clinic-based group setting. Consistent benefits—improved psychological functioning, reduction of stress symptoms, enhanced coping and well-being in cancer outpatients—were found. More research in this area is warranted: using randomized, controlled designs, rigorous methods, and different cancer diagnoses and treatment settings; expanding outcomes to include quality of life, physiological, health care use, and health-related outcomes; exploring mediating factors; and discerning dose effects and optimal frequency and length of home practice. Mindfulness meditation has clinically relevant implications to alleviate psychological and physical suffering of persons living with cancer. Use of this behavioral intervention for oncology patients is an area of burgeoning interest to clinicians and researchers.