Mindfulness facets predict quality of life and sleep disturbance via physical and emotional distresses in Chinese cancer patients: A moderated mediation analysis

Sleep plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis and one of a few foremost determinants of Quality of Life. Quality of life is a well-studied topic in oncology and various measures are taken to improve quality of life in this setting, in order to achieve therapeutic outcome and compliance in general in cancer patients. Sleep disturbances and disruption in circadian rhythm is among a few common presenting complaints of patients with malignancy and affects between 30% to 75% of newly diagnosed or recently treated cancer patients,1 which are reported as double that of the general population, paving the way for decreased compliance and inefficacy of therapy and pose as a detriment to general well-being, and quality of life. It is evident that mood disorders and sleep disturbances are more prevalent in females (1.3 to 1.8 times more than men),2 one may theorize that the prevalence of sleep disturbance in gynaecologic malignancies is greater than that of general population. Sleep disturbances in gynaecologic cancer patients often include difficulty in initiation of sleep, frequent awakening, difficulty in staying asleep, and restless leg syndrome. Systematic research on various sleeps disorders and their therapeutic approach in gynaecologic cancers in general is lacking. This article aims at elucidating and giving overview of sleep pattern changes in gynaecologic malignancies and therapeutic approaches to foster better sleep in this subset of population. This article also emphasizes the need to envisage the treatment strategies targeting cytokines and cortisol in improvement of sleep parameters in gynaecologic malignancies.

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Randomized clinical trial of medical qigong on quality of life, fatigue, side effects, mood, status, and inflammation of cancer patients

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2009.27.15_suppl.9617 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 9617-9617

Author(s):

B. Oh ◽

P. Butow ◽

B. Mullan ◽

S. Clarke ◽

P. Beale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Health Care ◽

Side Effects ◽

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Usual Care ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Usual Care Control Group

9617 Background: The quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients is often diminished due to the side effects of treatment and symptoms of the disease itself. This study examines the impact of Medical Qigong (MQ), including gentle exercise and relaxation through meditation and breathing exercise based on the Chinese Medicine theory of energy channels, on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, side effects, mood status and inflammation. Methods: One hundred sixty two patients diagnosed with a range of cancers recruited from three university teaching hospitals were randomly assigned to two groups: a control group (n=83) that received usual health care and an intervention group (n=79) who participated in a MQ program for 10 weeks in addition to receiving usual health care at the hospital. Quality of life and symptoms were measured by the FACT-G, cancer related fatigue by FACT-F and mood status by POMS. The inflammatory marker serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was also monitored serially. Results: Regression analysis indicated that the MQ intervention group significantly improved on measures of overall QOL (t144= -5.761, p<0.001), fatigue (t153= -5.621, p<0.001), mood disturbance (t122=2.346, p=0.021) and inflammation (CRP) (t99=2.042, p<0.044) compared to the usual care control group after controlling for baseline variables. Analysis of the FACT-G subscales revealed that the MQ intervention group also significantly improved in satisfaction with sex life (t92=-3.783, p<0.001) and reduced side effects of nausea (t152=-2.071, p=0.040) and sleep disturbance (t150=-2.603, p=0.010) compared to the usual care control group. Pain was improved in both intervention and control groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that MQ with usual health care can improve overall QOL, fatigue, positive mood status and reduce the side effects of nausea, sleep disturbance and inflammation of cancer patients. This study supports the use of MQ as an intervention for cancer care. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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