Mindfulness Therapy for Individuals With Lung Cancer

Status:	Completed
Conditions:	Lung Cancer, Cancer
Therapuetic Areas:	Oncology
Healthy:	No
Age Range:	21 - Any
Updated:	7/16/2013
Start Date:	March 2012
End Date:	January 2013
Contact:	Rebecca Lehto, PhD
Phone:	517-353-4757

Managing psychological and physical symptoms to improve quality of life in patients with
lung cancer are a major public health concern. Mindfulness-based therapies, a form of
supportive complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), are showing promise in modifying
psychological distress and improving quality of life in some cancer groups, but little
testing has included lung cancer samples. Mindfulness-based interventions are grounded in
evidence that meditation including breathing exercises, and gentle yoga enhance patients'
ability to adapt to serious medical concerns. The study purpose is to test the
acceptability, feasibility, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes of a
home-based mindfulness intervention for individuals with lung cancer who are undergoing
non-curative treatment. Acceptability and feasibility will be measured via patient consent
and retention rates, therapy expectancy, study adherence, attrition reasons, and quality
assurance indicators. Efficacy will be determined by HRQOL outcomes: symptoms; function; and
health perceptions. Thirty-six individuals undergoing treatment of non-small cell lung
cancer will be randomly assigned to receive either six weekly mindfulness sessions (N=18) or
an attention control condition (N=18). Symptom data will be collected weekly to document the
process of change in symptoms in both groups. HRQOL data will be obtained at baseline (Time
1), following the intervention (Time 2), and four weeks after completion (Time 3). The
hypothesis is that the mindfulness group will have better HRQOL (less worry, dyspnea,
insomnia, depression; higher physical and social function; more positive health perceptions)
than the attention control group at the protocol end and that these differences will be
sustained at Time 3.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. able to understand and speak English;

2. at least 21 years old;

3. active treatment for a diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer;

4. Karnofsky score > 80;47 and 5) have a telephone by which they can be reached.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. current substance abuse other than tobacco;

2. active treatment for psychiatric disorders excluding depression, and/or use of
antipsychotic medications;

3. cognitive impairment;

4. current active anti-cancer treatment;

5. participation in mindfulness-based classes, guided imagery, yoga, or relaxation
therapy courses; and

6. diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. We excluded small cell lung cancer because of
its very different disease presentation and its associated very rapid disease
progression.

We found this trial at

sites

Allegiance Health

205 NE Ave
Jackson, Michigan 49201

(517) 788-4800