1842P - The experience of women with breast or gynecological cancer after participation in the online mindfulness-based cancer recovery program (eMBCR)

Background

Mindfulness-Based Interventions have emerged as a promising approach to supportive care in oncology, addressing various dimensions of patients' quality of life, such as psychological distress, pain, and social support. Although some authors have already carried out qualitative analyses of the experience of participating in a mindfulness program, to our knowledge this is the first qualitative analysis conducted with patients after their participation in the Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) program.

Methods

The SERENITY study was a randomized controlled pilot study evaluating the feasibility and psychological effects of the eMBCR program for women with breast or gynecological cancer. 62 patients were randomized (2:1) to eMBCR + treatment as usual or TAU alone. They were assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. Assessments consisted of various psychological questionnaires, as well as qualitative interviews exploring participants’ experiences. Scores at baseline, t1, and t2 were compared between groups using Mixed Models for Repeated Measures. The qualitative analysis followed a thematic approach.

Results

Participants in the intervention group showed an improvement in the depression scale with a high-medium effect size after completion of the program. There were no significant differences between groups for the other psychological questionnaires, but most of them showed a clear trend towards improvement. At 3-month follow-up, a decrease in effect was observed for most questionnaires. In interviews, participation in the eMBCR program proved to be a safe environment, in which patients saw their well-being improve and acquired useful skills for their everyday lives. An interesting theme that emerged was that of re-exposure to memories of cancer, which in most cases was a source of positive transformation, but also a profoundly difficult experience for 4 participants.

Conclusions

Our study revealed a beneficial experience following regular mindfulness practice. We note, however, that this program could lead to difficult experiences that are important to recognize and reflect on to protect patients from these potentially deleterious effects.

Clinical trial identification

NCT04564768.

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Geneva University Hospitals (Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève).

Funding

Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève Recherche Suisse contre le cancer Fondation Leenaards Fondation NOVA.

Disclosure

S. Peters: Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board: Vaccibody, Takeda, Seattle Genetics, Sanofi, Roche/Genentech, Regeneron, Phosplatin Therapeutics, PharmaMar, Pfizer, Novartis, Mirati, Merck Serono, MSD, Janssen, Incyte, Illumina, IQVIA, GSK, Gilhead, Genzyme, Foundation Medicine, F-Star, Eli Lilly, Debiopharm, Daiichi Sankyo, Boehringer Ingelheim, Blueprint Medicines, Biocartis, Bio Invent, BeiGene, Bayer, BMS, AstraZeneca, Arcus, Amgen, AbbVie, iTheos, Novocure; Financial Interests, Institutional, Invited Speaker: Takeda, Sanofi, Roche/Genentech, RTP, Pfizer, PRIME, PER, Novartis, Medscape, MSD, Imedex, Illumina, Fishawack, Eli Lilly, Ecancer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, AstraZeneca, OncologyEducation, RMEI, Mirati; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Associate Editor Annals of Oncology and Deputy Editor Lung Cancer: Elsevier; Financial Interests, Institutional, Advisory Board, Permanent independent scientific advisor: Hutchmed; Financial Interests, Institutional, Member of Board of Directors, Swiss network of pharmacies: Galenica; Financial Interests, Institutional, Coordinating PI, MERMAID-1: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Institutional, Steering Committee Member, MERMAID-2, POSEIDON, MYSTIC: AstraZeneca; Financial Interests, Institutional, Steering Committee Member, Clinical Trial Steering committee CheckMate 743, CheckMate 73L, CheckMate 331 and 451: BMS; Financial Interests, Institutional, Steering Committee Member, RELATIVITY 095: BMS; Financial Interests, Institutional, Steering Committee Member, BGB-A317-A1217-301/AdvanTIG-301: Beigene; Financial Interests, Institutional, Trial Chair, Clinical Trial Chair ZEAL-1: GSK; Financial Interests, Institutional, Steering Committee Member, Clinical Trial steering Committee PEARLS, MK-7684A: MSD; Financial Interests, Institutional, Steering Committee Member, Clinical Trial Steering Committee SAPPHIRE: Mirati; Financial Interests, Institutional, Steering Committee Member, LAGOON: PharmaMar; Financial Interests, Institutional, Steering Committee Member, phase 1/2 trials: Phosplatin Therapeutics; Financial Interests, Institutional, Trial Chair, Clinical Trial Chair Skyscraper-01; chair ALEX; steering committee BFAST; steering committee BEAT-Meso; steering committee ImPower-030, IMforte: Roche/Genentech; Financial Interests, Institutional, Steering Committee Member, Phase 2 Inupadenant with chemo: iTeos; Non-Financial Interests, Officer, ESMO President 2020-2022: ESMO; Non-Financial Interests, Officer, Council Member & Scientific Committee Chair: ETOP/IBCSG Partners; Non-Financial Interests, Officer, Vice-President Lung Group: SAKK; Non-Financial Interests, Other, Involved in Swiss politics: Swiss Political Activities; Non-Financial Interests, Officer, President and Council Member: Ballet Béjart Lausanne Foundation; Non-Financial Interests, Principal Investigator, Involved in academic trials: ETOP / EORTC / SAKK; Non-Financial Interests, Member: Association of Swiss Physicians FMH (CH), ASCO, AACR, IASLC; Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, ESMO President: ESMO; Non-Financial Interests, Member, Vice-President Lung Group: SAKK; Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, Vice -President: SAMO; Non-Financial Interests, Member, Association of Swiss interns and residents: ASMAC/VSAO. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.