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Preliminary efficacy of a lovingkindness meditation intervention for patients undergoing biopsy and breast cancer surgery: A randomized controlled pilot study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wren, AA; Shelby, RA; Soo, MS; Huysmans, Z; Jarosz, JA; Keefe, FJ
Published in: Support Care Cancer
September 2019

PURPOSE: Despite more women undergoing treatment for breast cancer and increased survival rates, many women suffer from anxiety and physical symptoms (e.g., pain, fatigue) surrounding diagnosis and surgery. Research investigating the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for breast cancer patients during this period is limited. This randomized controlled pilot study examined the effect of a brief lovingkindness meditation intervention on these key outcomes. METHODS: Participants were 60 women who underwent core needle breast biopsy, received an abnormal biopsy result, and underwent breast surgery (White = 73.6%; African American = 22.6%; Asian American = 3.8%; Age M = 56). Participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions at breast biopsy: (1) lovingkindness meditation, (2) music, and (3) usual care. Assessments of anxiety, pain, fatigue, physiologic reactivity, and self-compassion occurred prior to patients' biopsy, following biopsy, 1 week after receipt of biopsy results, and 1 week following breast surgery. RESULTS: Multilevel modeling analyses demonstrated that lovingkindness meditation significantly improved pain (p = 0.02), self-compassion (p = 0.004), and heart rate (p = 0.02) over time compared to control conditions. There was a trend for anxiety (p = 0.05). Music significantly improved pain (p = 0.04) compared to usual care. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of a lovingkindness meditation intervention for breast cancer patients during the diagnostic and surgical period. Improving psychological and physical well-being during this time frame has the potential to improve longer-term health outcomes during adjuvant treatment and survivorship. Interventions that cultivate positive adjustment during the diagnostic and surgical period of breast cancer are an important area of future research.

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Published In

Support Care Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1433-7339

Publication Date

September 2019

Volume

27

Issue

9

Start / End Page

3583 / 3592

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pain Management
  • Pain
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Music Therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Meditation
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
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Wren, A. A., Shelby, R. A., Soo, M. S., Huysmans, Z., Jarosz, J. A., & Keefe, F. J. (2019). Preliminary efficacy of a lovingkindness meditation intervention for patients undergoing biopsy and breast cancer surgery: A randomized controlled pilot study. Support Care Cancer, 27(9), 3583–3592. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-4657-z
Wren, Anava A., Rebecca A. Shelby, Mary Scott Soo, Zenzi Huysmans, Jennifer A. Jarosz, and Francis J. Keefe. “Preliminary efficacy of a lovingkindness meditation intervention for patients undergoing biopsy and breast cancer surgery: A randomized controlled pilot study.Support Care Cancer 27, no. 9 (September 2019): 3583–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-4657-z.
Wren AA, Shelby RA, Soo MS, Huysmans Z, Jarosz JA, Keefe FJ. Preliminary efficacy of a lovingkindness meditation intervention for patients undergoing biopsy and breast cancer surgery: A randomized controlled pilot study. Support Care Cancer. 2019 Sep;27(9):3583–92.
Wren, Anava A., et al. “Preliminary efficacy of a lovingkindness meditation intervention for patients undergoing biopsy and breast cancer surgery: A randomized controlled pilot study.Support Care Cancer, vol. 27, no. 9, Sept. 2019, pp. 3583–92. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s00520-019-4657-z.
Wren AA, Shelby RA, Soo MS, Huysmans Z, Jarosz JA, Keefe FJ. Preliminary efficacy of a lovingkindness meditation intervention for patients undergoing biopsy and breast cancer surgery: A randomized controlled pilot study. Support Care Cancer. 2019 Sep;27(9):3583–3592.
Journal cover image

Published In

Support Care Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1433-7339

Publication Date

September 2019

Volume

27

Issue

9

Start / End Page

3583 / 3592

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pain Management
  • Pain
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Music Therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Meditation
  • Humans
  • Female