Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Nursing Interventions on Psychological Health, Resilience, and Educational Empowerment in Gynecologic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Summary

Mental well-being can be significantly uplifted even amidst gynecologic cancer. A meta-analysis explored how mindfulness-based nursing interventions improve psychological health, resilience, and empowerment. This nursing intervention, often integrated into patient education, showed significant improvements in global health and quality of life, including emotional and role functioning. It also tended to reduce anxiety and depression, fostering psychological resilience. Integrating mindfulness into nursing education empowers patients, enhancing their overall quality of life.

Abstract

To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based nursing interventions (MBNIs) on psychological health outcomes-including depression, anxiety, and quality of life-as well as resilience and educational empowerment among women with gynecologic cancers. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating MBNIs among women with gynecologic cancers were systematically identified through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and additional databases up to August 2025. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed methodological quality. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed by cancer type, and meta-regression analyses examined moderators such as mean age and marital status. Twelve RCTs including 1,228 participants (IG = 634; CG = 594) were eligible. Mindfulness-based interventions showed a tendency to reduce anxiety (SMD=-4.05; 95%CI - 9.19 to 1.09; I²=99.8%), depression (SMD=-2.68; 95%CI - 5.40 to 0.03; I²=99.4%), and fatigue (SMD=-3.38; 95% CI - 7.37 to 0.61; I²=99.2%), though effects were limited by high heterogeneity. Statistically significant improvements were observed in global health status (SMD = 2.62; 95%CI 0.27 to 4.97; I²=98.4%) and selected QOL domains, particularly role functioning (SMD = 0.29; 95%CI 0.13 to 0.44) and emotional functioning after bias correction (SMD = 2.89; 95%CI 0.22 to 5.57). Meta-regression showed that neither age nor marital status significantly moderated results. Mindfulness-based nursing interventions demonstrate potential not only for reducing psychological distress and improving quality of life among women with gynecologic cancers but also for serving as educational frameworks that strengthen self-regulation, resilience, and patient engagement in care. Integrating mindfulness-based education into oncology nursing practice may enhance both patient empowerment and professional development among healthcare providers. Further rigorous trials are warranted to validate these outcomes and define best practices for educational implementation.

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