Efficacy of New Mindfulness-Based Swinging Technique Intervention: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Among Women With Breast Cancer

Abstract

ObjectiveCombining 3rd-wave-therapies with Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy (CBT) has increased in recent years. Usually these therapies require longer sessions which therefore increases the psychotherapy drop-out rate for cancer patients for multiple medical reasons. This inspired intervention of a shorter 20 min-long mindfulness-therapy (MBST) to be developed for Breast-Cancer-patients (BC).MethodThis pilot randomised controlled trial was to assess the immediate-outcome of the MBST-intervention for its efficacy for BC-patients by using the Pearson Chi-square test, Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test, and McNemar test for categorical variables; Mann–Whitney U and Wilcoxon test for the continuous variables. The Emotion Thermometer, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease, and Beck’s Hopelessness Scale were used for measuring the intervention outcomes. One hundred seventy-three BC patients were randomly assigned in two-groups (equal-mean-age, p = 0.417). Control-Group (CG, n = 82) received cognitive-disputation-technique a form-of-CBT, and Intervention-Group (IG, n = 74) received MBST. The directives are given to IG: psychoeducation about Mindfulness, and to imagine themselves swinging-in a peaceful environment. When the patients imagine their swing going up, they physically take a deep-breath, and when going down they physically release their breath, and this process is repeated.ResultOutcomes post-treatment showed significant higher-improvement in IG in all the assessed-measurements, with large-effect-size: anxiety (p < 0,05, r = 0,67) and depression-levels (p < 0,05, r = 0,71); anxiety-trait (p < 0,05; r = 0,79) reduced, it increases self-efficacy for managing-disease (p < 0,05, r = 0,82) as-well-as hopefulness (p < 0,05, r = 0,61) and saturation-level measured by pulse-meter/oximeter (p < 0,05, r = 0,51).ConclusionMBST is an efficacious intervention to reduce psychotherapy session time for immediate relief from clinical anxiety and hopelessness as well as increase self-efficacy and improve tranquillity for BC-women. It may have a particular clinical significance for supporting patient’s adherence to treatment. Although in this pilot sample MBST was found to be effective for short-term-outcome, its efficacy for longer-term-outcome should be examined in future trials. Additionally, breathing laps can be increased possibly for a greater result on rise of saturation levels of patients.

A single-session Mindfulness-Based Swinging Technique vs. cognitive disputation intervention among women with breast cancer: A pilot randomised controlled study examining the efficacy at 8-week follow-up

“…This study is a continuation of the research conducted by Bahcivan et al (2022). Although initially this study was carried out with a total of 156 patients (74 in control group, and 82 in intervention group) including pre-post comparisons results in the aforementioned research; while in this continuation study, it was carried out with a total of 149 patients (73 in control group, and 76 in intervention group) only who completed the follow up at 8 weeks.…”

“…Inclusion criteria were applied to women participants with breast cancer in this study, which was previously published by Bahcivan et al ( 2022 ): (a) women diagnosed with breast cancer, (b) who can consent, (c) native Turkish speakers, (d) currently under cancer treatment, (e) score at least 16 points for Hospital and Depression scale (8 for anxiety, 8 for depression), (f) score maximum 7 points for Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease (in overall), (g) score at least 4 points for Beck's Hopelessness Scale (in overall), and (h) score at least 40 points for State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.…”

“…The intervention called “Mindfulness Based Swinging Technique (MBST)” was applied by the instructor to the eligible participants right after the psycho-social assessments which were approximately 20-min long. The MBST intervention period included a specific guided imagery for swinging practise and a breathing exercise as formerly explained (Bahcivan et al, 2018 , 2022 ). Additionally, a brief psychoeducation about the nature of mindfulness and directives for the intervention was given for approximately 5-min by the instructor before the MBST intervention commenced.…”

“…Additionally, a brief psychoeducation about the nature of mindfulness and directives for the intervention was given for approximately 5-min by the instructor before the MBST intervention commenced. Participants carried out the same psycho-social assessment in the control group but did not take part in the MBST, instead they undertook 20 min of CBT-CD, which was previously described (Horne and Watson, 2011 ; Sperry and Binensztok, 2019 ; Bahcivan et al, 2022 ). The protocol of CBT-CD treatment is further described by Sperry and Sperry ( 2017 ).…”

“…Thus, the purpose of this randomised pilot study was to follow-up on those results reported in Bahcivan et al (2022), and further report on MBST's efficacy at 8 weeks. Therefore, it is hypothesised that; the 20-min long MBST intervention will aid patients' perceived self-efficacy by improving their hope in regard to their cancer treatment and lessen anxiety as well as boost their oxygen (SpO 2 ) intensity and slow down their heart rate (bpm).…”