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Evaluation of the Effects of a Psychosocial Intervention on Mood, Coping, and Quality Of Life in Cancer Patients

Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, nreavley{at}unimelb.edu.au

Julie F. Pallant, PhD

School of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Avni Sali, MBBS, PhD

National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Melbourne, Australia

It was hypothesized that participation in a psychosocial intervention incorporating meditation, social support, positive thinking, and a low-fat, vegetarian diet would have beneficial effects on mood, coping, and quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients. This article describes the sociodemographic, medical, and psychological characteristics of participants in a psychosocial intervention designed for cancer patients. It also describes program impact in terms of Profile of Mood States, Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy. Compliance with program recommendations for 3 months and effects on adjustment were also explored. Improvements in all measures were found at program completion, with spiritual well-being particularly linked to improvement in QOL. The results suggest that the program has significant beneficial effects on adjustment but that these may not be fully maintained at follow-up, possibly because of difficulty in incorporating program recommendations into everyday life, increasing disease severity, and lack of accountability.

Key Words: psychosocial intervention • meditation • quality of life • coping • spirituality • emotional well-being

This version was published on March 1, 2009

Integrative Cancer Therapies, Vol. 8, No. 1, 47-55 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1534735408329411


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