A qualitative study of patient perspectives for a mindfulness-based intervention in lung cancer

This study aimed to explore the psychological experience of patients with early-stage lung cancer in the postoperative period, including their perceptions and attitudes, expectations of potential benefits, and barriers to engagement of an eight-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on psychological recovery.

This study was conducted as part of the Be Resilient to Lung Cancer (BRLC) research program, registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2400080459). Participants were purposively recruited from the thoracic surgery wards and outpatient follow-up clinics of a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou, China. Eligible participants were early-stage lung cancer patients who had undergone curative resection and were interviewed prior to participation in a MBI. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework for thematic analysis, guided by the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist.

Twenty-four participants (mean age = 50.6 ± 16.7 years) completed the interviews. Three themes were identified: (1) Perceptions and attitudes toward mindfulness; (2) Expectations of potential benefits; and (3) Barriers to engagement. The findings indicate that psychological recovery lags behind physical recovery, and a MBI is viewed as an acceptable, non-pharmacological approach to enhance emotional recovery.

Patients with lung cancer following curative intent surgery perceive a MBI as a promising strategy to address ongoing distress and promote psychological adjustment. Addressing misconceptions, self-efficacy concerns, and cultural barriers may optimize engagement in future patient-centered, culturally adapted MBI programs.