Impact of loving-kindness meditation intervention vs. music intervention during biopsy on adherence to recommended breast cancer screening.

Providing a loving-kindness meditation (LKM) intervention during core-needle breast biopsy (CNBB) significantly improved women's adherence to recommended breast imaging over the following 18 months. Among 120 women randomly assigned to LKM, music, or usual care during biopsy, adherence was 90% for the LKM group, compared to 71% for music and 69% for usual care. Women in the LKM group were 3.9 times more likely to adhere than those receiving usual care, and 3.5 times more likely than those in the music group. Music did not significantly improve adherence over usual care. The positive effect of LKM held regardless of whether biopsy results were abnormal or benign. Offering LKM during CNBB is a simple, scalable approach that may boost long-term screening compliance.

Study at a glance

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of providing a loving-kindness meditation (LKM) intervention vs. a music intervention during core-needle breast biopsy (CNBB) on adherence to subsequent, clinically recommended breast cancer screening and surveillance. Women (N = 120) were randomly assigned to receive LKM, Music, or Usual Care during CNBB. Patients in the LKM or Music groups listened to audio recordings during CNBB and were provided recordings for home use. Utilization of subsequent recommended breast imaging was assessed via health record review for 18 months into the breast cancer surveillance period. The sample was, on average, 53 years old (SD = 12.4), partnered (55%), and employed (56%); 28% Black and 68% White. Adherence to recommended breast imaging post-biopsy was: 69% for Usual Care, 71% for Music, and 90% for LKM. Compared to Usual Care, there was no significant difference in adherence for the Music group (OR = 1.11, 95% CI [0.43, 2.89], p = 0.829), but the LKM group was 3.9 times more likely to be adherent (OR = 3.89, 95% CI [1.13, 13.41], p = 0.032). Comparisons between intervention arms showed adherence for the LKM group was 3.5 times higher than the Music group (OR = 3.50, 95% CI [1.02, 12.00], p = 0.046). Patterns of adherence were similar across women with an abnormal biopsy result and those with a benign result. A LKM intervention initiated during CNBB can have significant, positive impacts on women's adherence to subsequent recommended breast imaging. Providing patients with LKM during CNBB is an easily disseminated approach that could improve adherence to breast cancer screening and surveillance after CNBB.