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A mindful self-compassion videoconference intervention for nationally recruited posttreatment young adult cancer survivors: feasibility, acceptability, and psychosocial outcomes

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Abstract

Purpose

Young adult (YA) cancer survivors report substantial distress, social isolation, and body image concerns that can impede successful reintegration into life years after treatment completion. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) interventions focus on developing mindfulness and self-compassion for managing distress, hardships, and perceived personal inadequacies. An MSC intervention would be beneficial in supporting YA survivors’ management of psychosocial challenges that arise in survivorship; however, a telehealth intervention modality is essential for reaching this geographically dispersed population. We conducted a single-arm feasibility study of an MSC 8-week videoconference intervention for nationally recruited YA survivors (ages 18–29).

Methods

The MSC intervention was group-based, 90-minute videoconference sessions, held weekly over 8 weeks, with audio-supplemented home practice. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed via attendance rate and an intervention satisfaction scale. Baseline to post-intervention changes in psychosocial outcomes (body image, anxiety, depression, social isolation, posttraumatic growth, resilience, self-compassion, mindfulness) were assessed using paired t tests and Cohen’s d effect sizes.

Results

Thirty-four participants were consented and 25 attended a videoconference group. Feasibility was established with 84% attending at least six of the eight sessions, and intervention acceptability was high (M = 4.36, SD = 0.40, score range = 1–5). All psychosocial outcomes, except for resilience, demonstrated significant changes (p < 0.002), with medium to large effect sizes (Cohen’s d > 0.5).

Conclusion

YA survivors are interested in receiving an MSC videoconference intervention. Feasibility, acceptance, and potential psychosocial benefits of the intervention were demonstrated. Findings can be applied toward the design of an efficacy randomized controlled trial to improve quality of life for YA survivors in transition after cancer treatment.

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Acknowledgements

Study funding was provided by a Small Grants Program for Research/Scholarship from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Department of Family Medicine, the University Cancer Research Fund, and NC TraCS grant (2KR651503). The study support was provided by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (UL1TR001111). R.A. Campo was supported by a T32 Research Fellowship (AT003378) from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Rebecca A. Campo, Karen Bluth, Sarah Knapik, Kamaira Philips & Susan Gaylord

  2. School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Sheila J. Santacroce

  3. Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Sheila J. Santacroce, Stuart Gold & Gary N. Asher

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Julia Tan

  5. Department of Pediatrics and Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Stuart Gold

  6. Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Gary N. Asher

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  1. Rebecca A. Campo
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Correspondence to Rebecca A. Campo.

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Campo, R.A., Bluth, K., Santacroce, S.J. et al. A mindful self-compassion videoconference intervention for nationally recruited posttreatment young adult cancer survivors: feasibility, acceptability, and psychosocial outcomes. Support Care Cancer 25, 1759–1768 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3586-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3586-y

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