OMM: Online Mobile Mindfulness to Improve the Well-Being of Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Anxiety and cancer related neuropathy are two persistent effects related to treatment for cancer. Mindfulness meditation has been used with substantial impact as a non-pharmacologic intervention to mitigate side and late effects of treatment. Mobile apps are ubiquitous for most of the general population, yet have a particular relevance for cancer survivors, given that physical and geographic limitations can be present. The goal of the current manuscript is to describe an ongoing trial of the Mindfulness Coach mobile application (“app”) for cancer survivors. Methods: In this randomized wait-list controlled trial, cancer survivors experiencing anxiety or cancer related neuropathy (200 in each arm) and who have finished primary treatment for cancer are invited to participate. Data are collected at three time points regardless of randomization condition: baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks. Both face-to-face and online recruitment strategies have been employed. In addition to evaluating the impact of mobile mindfulness of anxiety or cancer related neuropathy, other pain, fatigue, trauma, sleep, and satisfaction with the Mindfulness Coach app will also be assessed. Conclusion: Mindfulness meditation is becoming widely used by the general public, in addition to the use of mobile technology. Finding ways to deliver mindfulness meditation to people who have been treated for cancer allows for the intervention to be accessible to a larger breadth of survivors. The results of this intervention will have implications for further understanding the impact of mindfulness meditation on two persistent side and late effects of treatment of cancer— anxiety and cancer related neuropathy. Primary ID: BANTUM-2017-1 Secondary ID: NCI-2019-08685 ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03581357