The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the psychological symptoms of patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Overview: The prevalence of breast cancer in women is increasing worldwide and patients often present long-term psychological symptoms resulting from their diagnosis and treatment. These include anxiety, depression, and stress, and may result in side effects such as change in body image due to alopecia, and surgery interventions such as mastectomy. Thus, their quality of life will be effected. Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a psychosocial program. This eight-week group program is intended to alleviate the psychological symptoms in breast cancer patients and improve their quality of life can be improved. This study aims in searching for evidence-based research about the effectiveness of MBSR in breast cancer patients that nurses may find useful to provide support for their patients. . Research question: In patients with breast cancer (P), is mindfulness-based stress reduction (I) effective in alleviating psychological symptoms (O)? Method: A computerised literature search was carried out using PubMed, Academic Search Complete, Medline Complete, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Psych INFO, HyDI and Google Scholar. The retrieved literature reference lists were hand searched to identify additional papers. The search included RCTs, Meta-Analysis’ and a Systematic Reviews, and were appraised using the CASP tools. These papers included articles published in English, using MBSR as the intervention, studying its effect on the psychological symptoms of breast cancer adult female patients. Articles that were not peer reviewed, non-English language articles, articles that used other intervention other than MBSR, studies on mixed cancer patients, once investigating male patients, studies that included children and adolescents and MBSR studies involving other symptoms were excluded against this specific criteria. The studies were also weighted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Results: 660 hits were attained by the literature search. Six studies where chosen to answer the addressed PICO question. These included 3 RCTs, 2 Meta-Analysis and 1 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. These studies conclusively suggest that MBSR has a positive effect on breast cancer patients specifically on the psychological variables of anxiety, depression and stress under study. Recommendations: This dissertation proposes the following recommendations: To consider implementing MBSR techniques in nursing care. Enhancing knowledge about MBSR to the public. Free government MBSR programs. Incorporate MBSR in CPD. MBSR training as part of nursing training. Addressing gaps in current research. Further research about MBSR in other health conditions should be performed. Conclusion: The evidence suggests that enrolling breast cancer patients in an MBSR program can be in effective in improving their psychological symptoms.