title: Individualised mindfulness-based stress reduction for head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy of curative intent: a descriptive pilot study.
abstract: People with head and neck cancer (HNC) experience elevated symptom toxicity and co-morbidity as a result of treatment, which is associated with poorer psychosocial and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes. This Phase I study examined whether an individualised mindfulness-based stress reduction (IMBSR) programme could be successfully used with HNC patients undergoing curative treatment. Primary aims were to explore feasibility, compliance, acceptability and fidelity. Secondary aims were to determine whether (1) participation in the intervention was associated with changes in post-intervention mindfulness and (2) post-intervention mindfulness was associated with post-intervention distress and QoL. Nineteen HNC patients participated in a seven-session IMBSR programme with pre- and post-test outcome measures of psychological distress, depression, anxiety and QoL. Primary aims were assessed by therapists or participants. Mindfulness, distress and QoL were assessed using self-report questionnaires at pre- and post-intervention. Longer time spent meditating daily was associated with higher post-intervention mindfulness. After controlling for pre-intervention mindfulness, there was an association between higher post-intervention mindfulness and lower psychological distress and higher total, social and emotional QoL. This study offers important preliminary evidence than an IMBSR intervention can be administered to HNC patients during active cancer treatment. A randomised controlled trial is warranted to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychosocial Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pollard
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Burchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St. Vincent's Hospital and University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neilson
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Department of Clinical Psychology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ftanou
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rischin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kissane
authors.affiliation: Department of Patient Cancer Experiences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishnasamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Resources, Holy Cross Site Cancer Control Alberta, Calgary, AB, Canada.|Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St. Vincent's Hospital and University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia.|Department of Psychiatry, Psychosocial Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Couper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001315:Australia; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: head and neck cancer; mindfulness; psychological; quality-of-life