Mindfulness on Symptom Control and Quality of Life in Patients in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to systematically review the literature on the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on symptom control and quality of life in palliative care patients.
Results Summary
Mindfulness-based interventions were found to help manage suffering, anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, insomnia, drowsiness, appetite, and spiritual well-being in palliative care patients, with benefits extending to informal caregivers.
Population
Terminally ill or incurable patients in palliative care and their spousal caregivers.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | suffering | patients in palliative care | - | are helpful in managing | #1 |
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | anxiety | patients in palliative care | - | are helpful in managing | #2 |
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | depressive symptoms | patients in palliative care | - | are helpful in managing | #3 |
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | fatigue | patients in palliative care | - | are helpful in managing | #4 |
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | insomnia | patients in palliative care | - | are helpful in managing | #5 |
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | drowsiness | patients in palliative care | - | are helpful in managing | #6 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | appetite | patients in palliative care | - | are helpful in managing | #7 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | spiritual well-being | patients in palliative care | - | are helpful in managing | #8 |
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | several symptoms | patients in palliative care | - | control | #9 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | spiritual quality of life | patients in palliative care | - | improve | #10 |
mindfulness-based interventions | neutral | - | informal caregivers | - | benefit | #11 |
INTRODUCTION: Palliative care is a medical and humanitarian approach that improves the quality of life of patients, and their families, who are facing problems associated with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for terminally ill or incurable patients. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on symptom control and quality of life in patients in palliative care. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched for articles, published between January 2017 and December 2022, in English, including randomized controlled and clinical trials. RESULTS: Eight studies were included involving 609 patients and 75 dyads patients-spousal caregivers. The overall risk of bias was low to moderate. Mindfulness-based interventions are helpful in managing suffering, anxiety and depressive symptoms, fatigue, insomnia, drowsiness, appetite, and spiritual well-being. CONCLUSION: Mindfulness-based interventions control several symptoms and improve spiritual quality of life in patients in palliative care. Additionally, their informal caregivers also benefit from these interventions. Future trials are crucial to investigate other effects of mindfulness-based interventions, and their long-term benefits, in patients in palliative care.