Oral Presentation COSA-IPOS Joint Scientific Meeting 2012

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on mood, quality of life and wellbeing with women with stages 0-III breast cancer: A randomised controlled trial (#197)

Caroline J Hoffman 1 , Steven J Errser 2 , Jane B Hopkinson 3 , Peter G Nicholls 4 , Julia E Harrington 5 , Peter W Thomas 6
  1. The Haven Breast Cancer Support Centres, London, Lond, United Kingdom
  2. Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Hull, Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
  3. School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
  4. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
  5. The Haven Breast Cancer Support Centres, London, Lond, United Kingdom
  6. School of Health and Social Care, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom

Background
There is an ongoing need to explore effective ways of self-management for breast cancer patients.
Aim
To assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in women with stages 0 to III breast cancer relating to mood, breast- and endocrine-specific quality-of-life and wellbeing.
Methods
A randomized wait-list controlled trial was carried out at The Haven in London with 229 women following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to the 8-week MBSR programme or standard care. Profile of Mood States (POMS) (primary outcome), FACT-B and FACT-ES and WHO-5 Wellbeing scales evaluated mood, quality-of-life and wellbeing at weeks 0, 8 and 12. Repeated measures analysis of variance was employed.
Results
After adjusting for baseline there were statistically significant improvements from MBSR compared to controls for POMS and subscales: tension, depression, anger, vigour, fatigue and confusion, with differences at both T2 and T3, except for depression (8-weeks only) and anger (12-weeks only).
For FACT-B, FACT-ES and subscales: physical-, social-, emotional-,functional-wellbeing, and WHO-5 wellbeing questionnaire there were significantly better mean scores in the experimental group at both T2 and T3 except for social wellbeing (T2 only). For emotional wellbeing there was some evidence that treatment effects at T3 were statistically significantly greater that at T2.
Conclusion
MSBR improved mood, breast- and endocrine-related quality-of-life and wellbeing more effectively than standard care in women with stages 0 to III breast cancer and these results persisted at three months. This is novel data with positive implications for practice and further research.