Cancer Research in Switzerland - Krebsliga Schweiz

eport long-term impairment of sense of well-being, reflected
by low levels of health-related quality of life
(HRQoL) and high levels of depression and anxiety. Very
little effort has been expended in examining whether
behavioural interventions can serve to improve distinct
parameters of well-being, e. g. HRQoL, depression, fatigue
and anxiety.
Aim
Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) is a group behavioural
program aimed at improving aspects of well-being
for patients with a broad spectrum of chronic disorders
(detailed description provided later). The primary goal of
this investigation is to examine whether MBI is a feasible
and effective intervention for HSCT survivors in terms of
enhancing different dimensions of HRQoL (e. g. psychological
functioning, positive emotions, social contact and
ability to enjoy life) and decreasing depression, fatigue
and anxiety.
Methods
Using a controlled patient-preference procedure, MBI is
compared to a comparison intervention of augmented optimal
medical care, where patients, additional to usual
medical care, receive brief telephone medical and psychosocial
consultations twice a month during the intervention
phase. Feasibility of interventions will be evaluated by
measuring aspects of acceptability of interventions (percentage
of invited patients who participate, the dropout
rate for the program, the average weekly attendance rate
and the degree to which patients perceive that their personal
goals for the intervention have been met). Efficacy
of treatment will be evaluated by validated inventories of
HRQoL, depression and fatigue as primary outcomes.
Anxiety, personal growth and physical health status will
be employed as secondary measures. We plan to include
100 patients in the study and to examine benefits directly
after the intervention period and at 3 months follow-up.
Results
This study is ongoing, and 51 patients are thus far participating.
Few patients dropped out of the study before
completing the intervention (