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

50 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Chaplain-Delivered Compassion Meditation, Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health (CCSH), Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) for cancer patients?

Research shows that Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) can improve health-related quality of life by reducing depressive symptoms and anxiety in cancer survivors and their caregivers. Additionally, compassion meditation has been found to enhance compassion and reduce stress, which can be beneficial for cancer patients dealing with psychological and spiritual challenges. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is compassion meditation safe for cancer patients?

Research on compassion meditation, including Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT), suggests it is generally safe for participants, including cancer survivors and healthcare professionals. Studies have focused on its feasibility and participant satisfaction, with no significant safety concerns reported. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

How does the treatment Chaplain-Delivered Compassion Meditation differ from other treatments for cancer patients?

Chaplain-Delivered Compassion Meditation, also known as Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health or Cognitively-Based Compassion Training, is unique because it focuses on enhancing compassion through meditation, which can improve psychological and spiritual well-being. Unlike standard cancer treatments that target physical symptoms, this approach aims to reduce stress and improve quality of life by fostering emotional resilience and social support. ^{1 2 6 8 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This clinical trial tests the feasibility, implementation and acceptability of chaplain delivered compassion meditation in order to improve spiritual care for patients receiving stem cell transplantation. Hospital chaplains play a vital role in delivering emotional and spiritual care to a broad range of both religious and non-religious patients for a wide variety of stressors, and extensive research indicates that spiritual consults impact patient outcomes and satisfaction. Compassion meditation is a secularized, research-based mindfulness and compassion meditation program designed to expand and strengthen compassion for self and others. Practices include training in attentional stability and increased emotional awareness, as well as targeted reflections to appreciate one's relationship with self and others. By centering the mind, controlling debilitating ruminative thoughts, and cultivating personal resiliency and an inclusive and more accurate understanding of others. Engaging in chaplain delivered compassion meditation may improve the spiritual care for patients receiving stem cell transplantation.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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 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 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]

References

1. England 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. [2020]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Learning Compassion and Meditation: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Experience of Novice Meditators. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

4. United States 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? [2018]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Spiritual Considerations. [2019]

6. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) for breast cancer survivors: a randomized, wait list controlled pilot study. [2019]

7. United States 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. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Shared Meditation Involving Cancer Patients, Health Professionals and Third Persons: Perceptions of Participants Through a Focus Group Study. [2023]

9. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Does meditation improve the quality of life for patients living with cancer?]. [2018]