| Summary: | Mohamad Baydoun,1 Chelsea Moran,2 Andrew McLennan,1 Katherine-Ann L Piedalue,1 Devesh Oberoi,1 Linda E Carlson1 1Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Psychosocial Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; 2Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, CanadaCorrespondence: Linda E CarlsonDepartment of Psychosocial Oncology, Cancer Control Alberta – Holy Cross Site, 2202 2nd St. SW, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaT2S 3C1 Tel +1 403-355-3207Email l.carlson@ucalgary.caBackground: Although mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated efficacy for alleviating psychological distress in cancer survivors, little is known about the extent to which participants adhere to assigned home practice. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize and appraise the literature on rates and correlates of adherence to mindfulness home practice among cancer survivors.Methods: Four databases (PubMed, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, PsycInfo, and CINAHL) were searched for studies published before October 15, 2020. Articles were included if they evaluated the benefits of an MBI program for adults with cancer.Results: Twenty-one studies (N=1811 participants) meeting the inclusion criteria were identified (randomized controlled trials (n=13), non-randomized controlled designs (n=2), single-group studies (n=6)). The pooled adherence rate for participants’ home practice was 60% of the assigned amount, which equated to 27 min per day during the intervention period. There was some evidence for a relationship between home practice of mindfulness techniques and improvements in mood, stress, anxiety, depression, and fear of cancer recurrence (correlation coefficients ranged from 0.33 to 0.67). Factors including marital status, mood disturbance at baseline, intervention modality, and personality traits were evaluated in relation to adherence to home practice, but the current literature was inadequate to evaluate whether a relationship exists.Conclusion: Adherence to mindfulness home practice among cancer survivors is suboptimal, and most of the correlates of adherence studied to date are non-modifiable. More research is warranted to scrutinize the role of home practice in mindfulness-based interventions, including assessment of modifiable factors influencing adherence to improve benefits for this population.Keywords: oncology, mindfulness, adherence, distress, complementary therapy
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