Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Improving Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Introduction: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are key strategies in psychooncology. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of MBIs on the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients. Method: A systematic review (PRISMA) of 10 randomized clinical trials (2020-2025) was conducted, with quality assessed using Cochrane RoB 2.0. Results: In a sample of 1,007 participants, MBSR and MBCT protocols significantly improved global QoL. Significant benefits were found in functional (p=0.010) and physical well-being (p=0.003), with moderate-to-large effect sizes (d=0.42 to 1.09) in socio-emotional dimensions, sustainable up to 24 weeks. Conversely, virtual reality-based interventions showed no superiority over standard care (p=0.76). Conclusion: MBIs are effective for improving QoL in the cancer population, particularly in psycho-emotional aspects. Protocol standardization is recommended for clinical integration.
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