title: A mindful self-compassion videoconference intervention for nationally recruited posttreatment young adult cancer survivors: feasibility, acceptability, and psychosocial outcomes.
abstract: Young adult (YA) cancer survivors report substantial distress, social isolation, and body image concerns that can impede successful reintegration into life years after treatment completion. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) interventions focus on developing mindfulness and self-compassion for managing distress, hardships, and perceived personal inadequacies. An MSC intervention would be beneficial in supporting YA survivors' management of psychosocial challenges that arise in survivorship; however, a telehealth intervention modality is essential for reaching this geographically dispersed population. We conducted a single-arm feasibility study of an MSC 8-week videoconference intervention for nationally recruited YA survivors (ages 18-29).
  
  
  
  The MSC intervention was group-based, 90-minute videoconference sessions, held weekly over 8 weeks, with audio-supplemented home practice. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed via attendance rate and an intervention satisfaction scale. Baseline to post-intervention changes in psychosocial outcomes (body image, anxiety, depression, social isolation, posttraumatic growth, resilience, self-compassion, mindfulness) were assessed using paired t tests and Cohen's d effect sizes.
  
  
  
  Thirty-four participants were consented and 25 attended a videoconference group. Feasibility was established with 84% attending at least six of the eight sessions, and intervention acceptability was high (M = 4.36, SD = 0.40, score range = 1-5). All psychosocial outcomes, except for resilience, demonstrated significant changes (p < 0.002), with medium to large effect sizes (Cohen's d > 0.5).
  
  
  
  YA survivors are interested in receiving an MSC videoconference intervention. Feasibility, acceptance, and potential psychosocial benefits of the intervention were demonstrated. Findings can be applied toward the design of an efficacy randomized controlled trial to improve quality of life for YA survivors in transition after cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. rebecca_campo@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.affiliation: Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bluth
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.|Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Sheila J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Santacroce
authors.affiliation: Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knapik
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.|Department of Pediatrics and Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Kamaira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Philips
authors.affiliation: Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaylord
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.|Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Gary N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Asher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004645:Empathy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D000067250:Psychiatric Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D017216:Telemedicine; D049269:Videoconferencing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Feasibility study; Intervention; Mindfulness; Self-compassion; Videoconference; Young adult cancer survivors