Compassion Meditation for Cancer Patients

Overseen By Jennifer Mascaro, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Emory University

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Ventilator, Precautions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 84

Duration: 2 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how compassion meditation, led by hospital chaplains, can enhance spiritual care for cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplants. The trial compares two approaches: one group participates in chaplain-led compassion meditation sessions, while the other receives traditional chaplain consultations. The goal is to determine if compassion meditation can improve emotional well-being and spiritual support for patients. Ideal participants are those scheduled for a stem cell transplant within the next six weeks who can speak and read English.

As an unphased trial, this study offers patients a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative spiritual care practices.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on meditation and spiritual care, so it's unlikely to require changes to your medication, but you should confirm with the trial organizers.

What prior data suggests that chaplain-delivered compassion meditation is safe for cancer patients?

Research on compassion meditation, including methods like Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT), shows it is generally safe for participants, even those with cancer. Studies have not identified any serious side effects from these meditation practices. The goal is to enhance emotional well-being by teaching mindfulness and compassion. With sessions led by chaplains, the trial builds on the safety of previous research while aiming to improve patients' emotional and spiritual well-being. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about chaplain-delivered compassion meditation for cancer patients because it offers a unique approach to emotional and spiritual care that differs from traditional methods. Unlike standard chaplain consultations that provide support primarily upon request, this approach involves structured, regular meditation sessions led by a chaplain, focusing on cultivating compassion and spiritual well-being. This method may enhance patients' emotional resilience and overall quality of life by providing consistent, proactive spiritual care, potentially leading to improved mental health outcomes during the challenging cancer journey.

What evidence suggests that chaplain-delivered compassion meditation is effective for cancer patients?

Research has shown that chaplain-led compassion meditation may improve the quality of life for patients undergoing stem cell transplants. In this trial, participants in Arm I will receive chaplain-led compassion-centered spiritual health sessions. One study found that patients practicing this meditation felt less depressed than those receiving regular chaplain visits, similar to the traditional chaplain consultation provided in Arm II of this trial. This meditation fosters kindness towards oneself and others, reducing stress and promoting emotional balance. Another study found that chaplains trained in compassion-focused methods felt less burned out and used more caring language, potentially enhancing patient care. These findings suggest that compassion meditation might help patients feel better emotionally during their treatment. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients with Lymphoma or Multiple Myeloma who are undergoing stem cell transplantation. It aims to see if chaplain-led compassion meditation can help improve their spiritual care during treatment.

Inclusion Criteria

Patient must speak and read English

I am over 18 years old.

I am scheduled for a stem cell transplant within 6 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient will be excluded if they are cognitively impaired, on a ventilator, or are in a room requiring enteric precautions or airborne precautions (e.g., use of an N-95 mask requiring fit-testing) to enter

Chaplain has no exclusion criteria and no consequence for refusing to volunteer

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Patients receive chaplain-led compassionate centered spiritual health sessions over 30 minutes, twice per week for up to 2 weeks

2 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

6 months

Follow-up at 80-100 days and 6 months post treatment

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Chaplain-Delivered Compassion Meditation

Trial Overview The study is testing a program where hospital chaplains deliver compassion meditation to patients. The goal is to see if this improves emotional and spiritual well-being, patient outcomes, and satisfaction with care.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm I (Chaplain delivered compassion meditation) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients receive chaplain led compassionate centered spiritual health sessions over 30 minutes, twice per week for up to 2 weeks.

Group II: Arm II (Traditional chaplain consultation) Active Control 1 Intervention

Patients receive a traditional chaplain consultation and care upon request, per standard of care.

Chaplain-Delivered Compassion Meditation is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Chaplain-Delivered Compassion Meditation for:

• Improving spiritual care for patients receiving stem cell transplantation

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Emory University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Collaborator

Trials

886

Recruited

677,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The study involving 33 breast cancer survivors indicated that the meditation-based program, Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT), was feasible and well-received, with high participant satisfaction and attendance rates.

Participants in the CBCT group showed significant improvements in depression, intrusive thoughts, and perceived stress compared to the waitlist control group, suggesting potential psychological benefits for breast cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) for breast cancer survivors: a randomized, wait list controlled pilot study. Dodds, SE., Pace, TW., Bell, ML., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 40 Christian healthcare chaplains undergoing a 1-year residency, participants reported increased beliefs in the malleability of compassion after completing an intensive course in Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT).

The research highlighted significant individual variability in how participants practiced compassion meditation, suggesting that personal experiences and engagement levels can influence the effectiveness of compassion training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Learning Compassion and Meditation: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Experience of Novice Meditators. Mascaro, JS., Florian, MP., Ash, MJ., et al.[2023]

Patients with cancer often experience significant spiritual or existential distress, which can negatively impact their overall health and well-being.

Integrating spiritual assessments into routine care can help clinicians identify and address this distress, ultimately improving quality of life and coping mechanisms for patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Spiritual Considerations. Puchalski, CM., King, SDW., Ferrell, BR.[2019]

In a study involving 979 participants from an online health community, those who engaged in Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM) immediately reported significant improvements in perceived stress, self-compassion, and social connectedness compared to those who started the practice after a 3-week delay.

The effectiveness of LKM increased with more frequent practice, suggesting that regular engagement in this mind-body approach can enhance emotional resilience during challenging health journeys.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Randomized Trial of 21 Days of Loving Kindness Meditation for Stress Reduction and Emotional Well-being Within an Online Health Community for Patients, Family, and Friends Experiencing a Cancer Health Journey. Telke, S., Leininger, B., Hanson, L., et al.[2022]

A pilot study with 15 oncology nurses showed that short structured meditations (less than 10 minutes) significantly increased compassion satisfaction and decreased burnout and secondary trauma after 4 weeks of practice.

The results indicate that even brief meditation exercises can effectively improve the well-being of healthcare professionals, suggesting a need for larger studies to explore long-term benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a Meditation Intervention to Reduce the Effects of Stressors Associated With Compassion Fatigue Among Nurses. Hevezi, JA.[2022]

A pilot study involving 22 participants (7 cancer patients, 7 health professionals, and 8 third persons) found that a mindfulness meditation intervention was well-received, particularly by patients who reported feeling less lonely and more motivated.

All participants experienced improved stress management and expressed a desire for the program to continue, highlighting the importance of patient feedback in developing an effective long-term meditation program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Shared Meditation Involving Cancer Patients, Health Professionals and Third Persons: Perceptions of Participants Through a Focus Group Study. Prevost, V., Tran, T., Clarisse, B., et al.[2023]

Five studies on meditation interventions for cancer patients showed that while the design did not isolate meditation's effects, four of them reported significant improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety.

There is a growing recognition that meditation may enhance spiritual well-being, which could positively impact the quality of life for cancer patients, but more rigorously designed studies are needed to confirm these effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Does meditation improve the quality of life for patients living with cancer?]. Lamanque, P., Daneault, S.[2018]

A 3-day workshop on compassion-focused therapy for 28 health care providers led to a significant increase in self-compassion and a decrease in self-critical judgment, indicating the effectiveness of such training.

While the training improved self-compassion, it did not significantly reduce self-persecution or self-correction, suggesting that further exploration is needed to address these aspects of self-criticism.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does Compassion-Focused Therapy Training for Health Care Educators and Providers Increase Self-Compassion and Reduce Self-Persecution and Self-Criticism? Beaumont, E., Irons, C., Rayner, G., et al.[2018]

This pilot trial is investigating the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) for improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer survivors and their caregivers, with 40 dyads participating in an 8-week intervention.

CBCT aims to enhance self-compassion and empathy, potentially addressing depressive symptoms and other HRQOL domains, while also measuring biomarkers of inflammation and cortisol levels to assess overall wellness and healthcare utilization.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitively-Based Compassion Training versus cancer health education to improve health-related quality of life in survivors of solid tumor cancers and their informal caregivers: study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial. Pace, TWW., Dodds, SE., Sikorskii, A., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05274763

Chaplain-Delivered Compassion Meditation to Improve ... This clinical trial tests whether chaplain-delivered compassion centered spiritual health (CCSH) works to improve quality of life in patients receiving a stem ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11875371/

A randomized controlled trial of a compassion-centered ... Results. Patients seen by CCSH-trained chaplains had lower post-consult depression scores (M = 4.10, SD = 5.04) than patients who were seen by ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-lymphoma-9-2023-cd2d4

Compassion Meditation for Cancer Patients This clinical trial tests the feasibility, implementation and acceptability of chaplain delivered compassion meditation in order to improve spiritual care ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04060901

Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health for Faculty and Staff The program enhances the practice of spiritual health through CCSH Interventions, which are a Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT)-based approach to ...

5. ccsh.emory.edu ccsh.emory.edu/research/index.html

Ongoing Research Efforts | Emory University | Atlanta GA That chaplains trained in CBCT and CCSH delivery will report more compassion satisfaction and less burnout. That empathic and compassionate language are ...

6. cancer.gov cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2023-09608

Chaplain-Delivered Compassion Meditation to Improve ... This clinical trial tests the feasibility, implementation and acceptability of chaplain delivered compassion meditation in order to improve spiritual care ...

7. cdn.clinicaltrials.gov cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/63/NCT05274763/Prot_000.pdf

Protocol Title: A feasibility study of Chaplain-delivered ... Study Title. A feasibility study of Chaplain-delivered compassion meditation for patients receiving stem cell transplantation. Study Design. The study will be ...

8. cancer.gov cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2022-00233

Chaplain-Delivered Compassion Meditation to Improve ... This clinical trial tests whether chaplain-delivered compassion centered spiritual health (CCSH) works to improve quality of life in patients receiving a stem ...