Effects of Internet Training in Mindfulness Meditation on Variables Related to Cancer Recovery

Objectives Once cancer patients complete treatment, experiences with stress-related sequelae that impede recovery often persist. This study examined whether Internet-delivered mindfulness treatment alleviated symptoms associated with this stress. Methods Cancer survivors were randomly assigned to either 6-week Internet-delivered mindfulness training or a usual care control and were compared on the following outcome battery: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Profile of Mood States, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Fatigue Symptom Inventory. Assessments were conducted before and after treatment and intervention compliance was monitored. Mindfulness treatments were delivered at a time and on a computer of the participants' choosing. Results Multivariate and univariate follow-up analyses indicated that mindfulness training produced significant benefits on all measures. Effect sizes were all medium to large as well. Conclusions Online mindfulness instruction represents a widely accessible intervention for reducing psychological distress and its behavioral manifestations in cancer survivors, especially those who are unable to participate in in-person training.