A qualitative study of mindfulness-based meditation therapy in Japanese cancer patients

Abstract: PURPOSE: The primary objective of the study was to examine mindfulness-based meditation ther-
apy qualitatively. A secondary goal was to examine the differences in themes selected by Japanese and Western pa-
tients receiving this therapy. METHODS: The subjects were 28 patients who were undergoing anti-cancer treatment.
The subjects participated in two sessions of mindfulness-based meditation therapy, including breathing, yoga move-
ment, and meditation. Each patient was taught the program in the first session, then exercised at home with a CD, and
subsequently met the interviewer in a second session after 2 weeks. Primary physicians recruited the patients and in-
terviews were conducted individually by nurses or psychologists with training in the program. Patients provided an-
swers to pre- and post-intervention interviews about the meaning of their illness. RESULTS: Narrative data from the
semi-structured interview were analyzed qualitatively. Pre-intervention, themes such as \"Effort to cope,\" \"Looking
back,\" \"Spirituality,\" \"Personal growth,\" and \"Suffering\" were often chosen. Post-intervention, themes such as
\"Adapted coping,\" \"Personal growth,\" \"Positive meaning,\" \"Spirituality,\" and \"Negative recognition\" were more com-
monly chosen. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness-based meditation therapy may be effective for producing adapted cop-
ing, including positive recognition and changes for an adapted lifestyle. There were some common aspects and some
differences in the themes selected by patients in this study and Western patients received mindfulness therapy in other
studies.