Improving Cognitive Impairment in Cancer Patients With an Online Course in Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction—A Randomized Controlled Trial
Anna Baumeister, Lea Schuurmans, Lisa Borgmann, Alena Krause, Luca Schmidt, Steffen Moritz, Matthias RostockABSTRACT
Background
Cancer patients often suffer from neurocognitive impairments due to cancer treatment, the cancer itself, and/or coping with the illness, significantly impairing quality of life and everyday functioning.
Aims
This study evaluates the effectiveness of an online MBSR course regarding neurocognitive functioning and well‐being of cancer patients.
Methods
A total of 170 cancer patients with cognitive impairments 3 months to 5 years after completing antitumor therapy were randomized to an online MBSR course led by an experienced therapist or a waitlist control group. Assessments were conducted online at baseline (T0) and post‐intervention (T1, 8 weeks). The control group then received the intervention and was assessed again after 8 weeks (T2). Both groups completed a 3‐month follow‐up (T3). The primary outcome was subjective neurocognitive functioning (FACT‐Cog). Secondary outcomes included quality of life (FACT‐G), fatigue (BFI), depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9), attention (Go‐No‐Go), and verbal learning and memory (VLMT). Outcomes were analyzed using mixed models for repeated measures.
Results
Subjective neurocognitive functioning (FACT‐Cog) improved significantly in the intervention group compared to controls at T1 (Cohen's d = 0.36–0.72, p = 0.004–< 0.001, depending on subscale), as well as quality of life (FACT‐G, Cohen's d = 0.32, p = 0.001), fatigue (BFI, Cohen's d = −0.47, p < 0.001), and depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9, Cohen's d = −0.57, p < 0.001). Objective memory performance (VLMT, Cohen's d = 0.25, p = 0.030) improved. Effects were maintained at 3‐month follow‐up.
Conclusions
The online MBSR course can effectively improve cancer‐related cognitive impairment and well‐being of cancer patients.