Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review of Participants' Adherence to Home Practice

Mohamad Baydoun; Chelsea Moran; Andrew McLennan; Katherine-Ann L Piedalue; Devesh Oberoi; Linda E Carlson

doi:10.2147/PPA.S267064

Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review of Participants' Adherence to Home Practice

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2021 Jun 9:15:1225-1242. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S267064. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Mohamad Baydoun¹, Chelsea Moran², Andrew McLennan¹, Katherine-Ann L Piedalue¹, Devesh Oberoi¹, Linda E Carlson¹

Affiliations

¹ Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Psychosocial Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
² Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Although mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated efficacy for alleviating psychological distress in cancer survivors, little is known about the extent to which participants adhere to assigned home practice. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize and appraise the literature on rates and correlates of adherence to mindfulness home practice among cancer survivors.

Methods: Four databases (PubMed, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, PsycInfo, and CINAHL) were searched for studies published before October 15, 2020. Articles were included if they evaluated the benefits of an MBI program for adults with cancer.

Results: Twenty-one studies (N=1811 participants) meeting the inclusion criteria were identified (randomized controlled trials (n=13), non-randomized controlled designs (n=2), single-group studies (n=6)). The pooled adherence rate for participants' home practice was 60% of the assigned amount, which equated to 27 min per day during the intervention period. There was some evidence for a relationship between home practice of mindfulness techniques and improvements in mood, stress, anxiety, depression, and fear of cancer recurrence (correlation coefficients ranged from 0.33 to 0.67). Factors including marital status, mood disturbance at baseline, intervention modality, and personality traits were evaluated in relation to adherence to home practice, but the current literature was inadequate to evaluate whether a relationship exists.

Conclusion: Adherence to mindfulness home practice among cancer survivors is suboptimal, and most of the correlates of adherence studied to date are non-modifiable. More research is warranted to scrutinize the role of home practice in mindfulness-based interventions, including assessment of modifiable factors influencing adherence to improve benefits for this population.

Keywords: adherence; complementary therapy; distress; mindfulness; oncology.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

LEC holds the Enbridge Research Chair in Psychosocial Oncology, cofounded by the Canadian Cancer Society Alberta/NWT Division and the Alberta Cancer Foundation, as well as a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Mentorship Chair in Innovative Clinical Trials. MB, DO, and CM are supported by the Training in Research and Clinical Trials in Integrative Oncology (TRACTION) fellowship from the University of Calgary. MB is funded by a University of Calgary “Eyes High” Postdoctoral Fellowship. DO is supported by a joint Cumming School of Medicine-Charbonneau Cancer Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship. CM is supported by the Alberta Innovates Support for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Graduate Studentships and an award from the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRQS).