Mindfulness-based group medical visits (MB-GMVs) delivered via telehealth are a feasible and acceptable way to increase access to mindfulness-based interventions for racially and ethnically diverse patients undergoing cancer treatment. In a quality improvement project, 80% of referred patients enrolled; 90% attended at least three of four weekly sessions. Participants were 22% Asian, 14% Black, 17% Latino, and 45% non-Latino White; 65% were female; median age was 54; and 80% had metastatic cancer. On final evaluations, 87% rated the series as excellent, 81% strongly agreed they liked the group medical visit format, and 92% would definitely recommend it. Qualitative themes included empowerment and connectedness.
Brief audio-based mindfulness meditation delivered during daily radiation therapy for prostate cancer is feasible, acceptable, and may reduce fatigue, sleep disturbance, and intolerance of uncertainty. In a randomized trial, 76% of approached men enrolled; the final program retained 89% of participants. Compared to a relaxing music control, those receiving mindfulness showed significantly less uncertainty intolerance at 4 weeks and significantly lower fatigue and sleep disturbance scores at 3 months follow-up. The audio recordings were delivered daily starting week 2 of radiation for 4 weeks. The findings suggest such self-management approaches hold potential to alleviate common side effects of prostate cancer radiation therapy.