Rahmani, S., & Talepasand, S. (2015). The effect of group mindfulness-based stress reduction program and conscious yoga on the fatigue severity and global and specific life quality in women with breast cancer. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 29, 175.

To assess the effectiveness of a group mindfulness-based stress reduction program on fatigue severity and life quality measures in women with breast cancer

The intervention was a standard mindfulness-based stress reduction program consisting of mindfulness skills, meditation, relaxation, and yoga. The program was provided in a group setting once weekly over an eight-week period. Patients randomly were assigned to the intervention or control group, which received no intervention. Patients were excluded from the analysis if they did not want to continue to participate in the intervention or missed more than two sessions.

• N = 24  
• MEAN AGE = 43.6 years (range = 30–55 years)
• FEMALES: 100%
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: All patients had breast cancer and were receiving chemotherapy.
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: None provided

• SITE: Single site  
• SETTING TYPE: Not specified  
• LOCATION: Iran

• PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Randomized, controlled, trial 

• Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)
• Global Quality of Life in Cancer Patients (GLQ-C30)
• Life Quality in Breast Cancer (QLQ-BR23)

Role, emotional function, social function, and cognitive function improved over time in both groups. Pain and fatigue declined over time in both groups (p < 0.001). There was a significant effect of group assignment over time with greater improvements in the intervention group for fatigue and pain (p < 0.001) as well as multiple areas of functioning.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction may be helpful in the management of fatigue among women receiving treatment for breast cancer.

• Small sample (< 30)
• Risk of bias (no blinding)
• Risk of bias (no appropriate attentional control condition)
• Other limitations/explanation: No information was provided regarding adherence to sessions or drop-outs during the study.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction may be helpful for patients with cancer in the management of fatigue and some aspects of quality of life. Additional research involving the use of therapy interventions provided in groups should include appropriate group and attention control conditions because these factors can be expected to have an effect on perceived symptom severity.