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A randomized control trial of meditation compared to music listening to improve cognitive function for breast cancer
Ashley M Henneghan1, Heather Becker2, Michelle L Harrison3
1The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, 1710 Red River St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA; The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Oncology, 1601 Trinity St, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
Background:
and Purpose: Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) experience persistent cognitive and psychological changes associated with their cancer and/or treatment and that have limited treatment options. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and effects of a Kirtan Kriya meditation (KK) intervention on cognitive and psychological symptoms compared to an attention control condition, classical music listening (ML), in BCS.
Materials And Methods:
A randomized control trial design was used. Participants completed eight-week interventions. Cognitive function and psychological symptoms were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Mixed analysis of variance models were examined for all cognitive and psychological outcomes.
Results:
27 BCS completed the study. Intervention adherence was 88%. Both groups improved in perceived cognitive impairments, cognition related quality of life, verbal memory, and verbal fluency (p's < 0.01). There were no significant group by time effects for cognitive and psychological outcomes, except stress. The ML group reported lower stress at time 2 (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
KK and ML are feasible, acceptable, and cost-effective interventions that may be beneficial for survivors' cognition and psychological symptoms. Both interventions were easy to learn, low cost, and required just 12 min/day. Meditation or music listening could offer providers evidence-based suggestions to BCS experiencing cognitive symptoms.
Clinical Trials Registration Number:
NCT03696056.
