The eCALM Trial-eTherapy for cancer appLying mindfulness: online mindfulness-based cancer recovery program for underserved individuals living with cancer in Alberta: protocol development for a randomized wait-list controlled clinical trial


Author: Kristin A Zernicke 12, Tavis S Campbell 12, Michael Speca 123, Kelley McCabe-Ruff 4, Steven Flowers 56, Dale A Dirkse 12 and Linda E Carlson 123*

Affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada  2 Department of Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Center, 2202 – 2nd Street SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2S 3C1, Canada  3 Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada  4 eMindful Inc., Vero Beach, Florida, USA  5 Mindful Living Programs, Chico, California, USA  6 Enloe Medical Center, Chico, California, USA
Conference/Journal: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Date published: 2013 Feb 16
Other:
 Volume ID: 13   ,  Pages: 34   ,  Word Count: 257  
    Background

Elevated stress can exacerbate cancer symptom severity, and after completion of primary cancer treatments, many individuals continue to have significant distress. Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) is an 8-week group psychosocial intervention consisting of training in mindfulness meditation and yoga designed to mitigate stress, pain, and chronic illness. Efficacy research shows face-to-face (F2F) MBCR programs have positive benefits for cancer patients; however barriers exist that impede participation in F2F groups. While online MBCR groups are available to the public, none have been evaluated. Primary objective: determine whether underserved patients are willing to participate in and complete an online MBCR program. Secondary objectives: determine whether online MBCR will mirror previous efficacy findings from F2F MBCR groups on patient-reported outcomes.



Method/design

The study includes cancer patients in Alberta, exhibiting moderate distress, who do not have access to F2F MBCR. Participants will be randomized to either online MBCR, or waiting for the next available group. An anticipated sample size of 64 participants will complete measures online pre and post treatment or waiting period. Feasibility will be tracked through monitoring numbers eligible and participating through each stage of the protocol.



Discussion

47 have completed/completing the intervention. Data suggest it is possible to conduct a randomized waitlist controlled trial of online MBCR to reach underserved cancer survivors.



Trial registration

Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT01476891



Keywords: Mindfulness; Cancer; Oncology; Randomized waitlist controlled trial; Online; Stress reduction; Meditation; Yoga



The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/13/34