Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effect of Raja yoga meditation on the level of distress and anxiety in women with breast cancer. Method: A randomized, controlled, clinical trial was carried out in a specialized center between February and December 2019. The patients in the intervention group (n = 25) participated in four group meditation sessions for one month, and the participants in the control group (n = 25) were exposed to an educational activity for the same period and frequency. Cohen’s d was used to evaluate the effect size. Results: A significant reduction in the level of distress and anxiety was found in the intervention group (p < 0.001). The effect of meditation was average in reducing distress, anxiety, depression, and vital signs. There was also an average effect on the increase in saturation of peripheral oxygen (SPO2). Conclusion: The practice of meditation reduced distress and anxiety more effectively than the usual care practices.
Highlights
Despite advances in the treatment of breast cancer, such as the improvement of surgical techniques, chemotherapy, and interdisciplinary assistance (Instituto Nacional de Câncer2019), it still has negative repercussions on the lives of women, including changes in the physical, psychological, social, and sexual aspects (Maass et al 2019)
It is known that breast cancer can be related to stress and stressful situations experienced in childhood, repression of feelings, depression, and anxiety (Bahri et al 2019), with the latter being characterized by a feeling of intense, excessive, and persistent concern, with a negative influence on the quality of life (Regino et al 2018)
The results of the present study show that distress was present in most participants in the intervention group (IG)
Summary
Despite advances in the treatment of breast cancer, such as the improvement of surgical techniques, chemotherapy, and interdisciplinary assistance (Instituto Nacional de Câncer2019), it still has negative repercussions on the lives of women, including changes in the physical, psychological, social, and sexual aspects (Maass et al 2019). A multifactorial and emotional suffering that can be psychological, social, or spiritual, can be experienced, affecting the ability to deal effectively with cancer and its physical changes, symptoms, and treatment (Ownby 2019). It is known that breast cancer can be related to stress and stressful situations experienced in childhood, repression of feelings, depression, and anxiety (Bahri et al 2019), with the latter being characterized by a feeling of intense, excessive, and persistent concern, with a negative influence on the quality of life (Regino et al 2018). A study pointed out that 51.55% of cancer patients suffer from anxiety and 62.88% from depression, and that women are more likely to have these emotional problems (Veronese and Frade 2021)
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