A pilot study tested a modified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program as a smoking cessation intervention. Eighteen participants attended weekly mindfulness sessions and attempted to quit smoking in week seven without medication. Six weeks after the quit day, 56% (10 of 18) had biologically confirmed seven-day smoking abstinence. Greater meditation practice was linked to higher abstinence rates and lower stress and emotional distress. The findings suggest mindfulness training may help with smoking cessation and merits further research in a larger controlled trial.
A planned randomized controlled trial will compare mindfulness and Baduanjin (a form of Qigong) against a waitlist control group for people with colorectal cancer. The study aims to see whether these mind-body exercises improve cancer-related symptoms, mental health, quality of life, and stress levels. One hundred eighty-nine participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: mindfulness training, Baduanjin practice, or a waitlist. Both intervention groups will receive 8 weeks of their respective program. Assessments will occur at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months after the intervention. Based on prior research, the authors expect both interventions to lead to better outcomes than the control group.