The Experience of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Menopausal Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, and Body Image among Patients with Breast Cancer-A Qualitative Study

Yun-Chen Chang; Gen-Min Lin; Tzuhui Angie Tseng; Elsa Vitale; Ching-Hsu Yang; Ya-Ling Yang

doi:10.3390/curroncol30010097

The Experience of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Menopausal Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, and Body Image among Patients with Breast Cancer-A Qualitative Study

Curr Oncol. 2023 Jan 16;30(1):1255-1266. doi: 10.3390/curroncol30010097.

Authors

Yun-Chen Chang^{1

2}, Gen-Min Lin^{3

4}, Tzuhui Angie Tseng⁵, Elsa Vitale⁶, Ching-Hsu Yang⁷, Ya-Ling Yang⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, China Medical University, Taichung 40604, Taiwan.
² Nursing Department, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan.
³ Department of Medicine, Hualien-Armed Forces General Hospital, Hualien 97144, Taiwan.
⁴ Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Environmental and Cultural Resources, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30063, Taiwan.
⁶ Mental Health Center, ASL (Local Health Authority) Bari, 70026 Bari, Italy.
⁷ Department of Emergency Medicine, Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu 30071, Taiwan.
⁸ School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan.

Abstract

Background and aim: The objective was to decrease patient menopausal symptoms, sleep disturbance, and body image using a nonpharmacological therapy for cultivating key healthy lifestyle habits in patients with breast cancer.

Materials and methods: The participants were 26 women with breast cancer who had recently received structured mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training in a clinical trial. Focus groups and interviews were conducted, during which the participants were asked semistructured, open-ended questions regarding the experiences of MBSR.

Results: The participants indicated that MBSR helped them to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats, and improve sleep quality and be more at ease with the external aspect of their body. On the other hand, during MBSR intervention in a group manner, the participants felt more psychological support and an outlet for sharing negative emotional experiences.

Conclusion: This study identified the short-term benefits associated with group-based MBSR for women with breast cancer. In addition, our research identified the difficulties of intervention measures and coping methods. The study described the benefits of MBSR for patients with breast cancer. The findings of this study will help nursing staff identify the main coping menopausal symptoms and control negative mental health.

Keywords: body image; breast cancer; menopausal; mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR); sleep disturbance.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Body Image
Breast Neoplasms* / complications
Female
Humans
Menopause
Mindfulness* / methods
Quality of Life
Sleep
Stress, Psychological / psychology
Stress, Psychological / therapy

Grants and funding

YCC effort was supported by a grant from China Medical University, Taiwan (CMU111-N-09) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST 111-2314-B-039-016).