Preventing psychological symptoms among cancer survivors through a digital mindfulness psychoeducation program: Protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundCancer survivors experience challenges, that may affect their psychological well-being. Technology-based, mindfulness-based interventions have been offered to cancer survivors; however, contents do not sufficiently cover issues related to cancer and its treatments. This study protocol presents a three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) that aims to examine the effectiveness of a digital mindfulness psychoeducation programme (Digital-MindCAN programme) on psychological symptoms among cancer survivors. This program contains knowledge linking to cancer-related matters, mindfulness principles and mindfulness practice, which will be delivered real-time using a videotelephony software.MethodsEligible cancer survivors will include adults who completed curative treatments from two weeks to two years. They will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups: Digital-MindCAN programme with standard care, Palouse Mindfulness programme with standard care, and a wait-list control group. A convenience sample will be recruited from a tertiary hospital in Singapore. A target sample size will be 150 participants, with 50 participants in each group. Primary outcomes encompass objective stress and subjective stress. Secondary outcomes comprise psychological well-being, perceived relaxation, mindfulness, resilience, depression, and anxiety. Self-administered questionnaires and physiological measures will be used to collect participants’ responses. Focus group interviews will be conducted for intervention groups after the end of the eighth session. Quantitative data will be analyzed by descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance and repeated measures analysis of variance. Qualitative findings will be analyzed using a realist evaluation method.DiscussionThis RCT will be the first to test the effectiveness of the technology-based, mindfulness-based intervention on cancer survivors in Singapore. Positive findings will add knowledge and inform clinical practice. Specifically, the Digital-MindCAN intervention may be offered as part of standard care for cancer survivors. Future research can be implemented and further tested the program in other healthcare institutions.Trial registrationThis study has been registered with ISCTN Clinical Trial Registry (Trial NO.ISRCTN10756933).