JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Psychological distress like depression and anxiety in cancer patients worsens treatment challenges, impacting compliance and prognosis. Interventions, like Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs), show promise in reducing distress and improving outcomes, with longer durations potentially yielding better results.

Objective:

This study aims to investigate the impact of Internet-based Mindfulness-Based Interventions (e-MBIs) on anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms in prostate and breast cancer patients. The primary aims are to assess the association between the amount and variety of e-MBI practices and symptom reduction. Secondly, the study aims to examine how baseline information such as sociodemographic characteristics and dispositional mindfulness (DM) and dispositional self-compassion (DSC) correlate with both app usage and symptom reduction.

Methods:

Data from the NEVERMIND project were used, involving 107 patients. A longitudinal design assessed Pearson’s correlation to analyse the relationship between the amount and duration of e-MBI practices. Linear regression gauged the dose-response effect, evaluating DM and DSC impact on depression, anxiety, and stress. Negative binomial regression studied sociodemographic factors' influence on e-MBI practice amount.

Results:

The participants with more diverse and sustained mindfulness practices (TP=1) experienced significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress. A high correlation (0.94) between e-MBI practices and symptom reduction is also highlighted. Male, married, and highly educated patients were more likely to engage in mindfulness. Even if DM and DSC did not impact the amount or variety of practices correlated, they were correlated with symptom reduction, showing that higher levels were associated with significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress.

Conclusions:

While more e-MBI practice is linked to reduced anxiety, depression, and stress, the study emphasises the crucial role of variety of practice over amount. DM and DSC are key in shaping intervention effectiveness and may act as protectors against psychological distress. Using app log data, our research provides a unique perspective on e-MBI impact, contributing to cancer care understanding and guiding future studies.