A Study to assess the Effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Meditation on Reducing Stress among Cancer Patients in Selected Hospitals at Mandya District

Mr. Raghu Rama G N

Lecturer, Shri Anand Institute of Nursing, Opp. Ghanteshwar Park, B/h Sainik Society, Jamnagar Road, Rajkot.

*Corresponding Author Email: meeralk00@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Stress is one of the common problems in cancer patients, much research demonstrating that cancer patients suffer from a significant amount of psychological distress. Mindfulness stress reduction Meditation is a mind-body process that uses concentration or reflection to relax the body and calm the mind and reduce the stress. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness based stress reduction meditation on reducing stress among cancer patients. The research designed adopted was pre experimental one group pre-test post-test design. The conceptual framework for this study was based on vonbertalanffy system model Model. The study had been conducted at kaveri hospital; mandya district. A total of 30 cancer patient were selected by convenient sampling method.

The data collected were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The pre test stress level among 30 respondents, 21 (70%) had moderate stress level scores, 9 (30%) had severe stress level and no subjects had mild stress level. After MBSR meditation, 16(53.33%) had mild stress scores, 14 (46.67%) had moderate stress scores and no one had severe stress score. the post test mean score was 84.13with the standard deviation of 11.56.when comparing to pre test mean score 110.6 with standard deviation of 13.11, it was significantly higher and computed paired t’ value 16.5 is higher than the table value 2.05, which shows the MBSR meditation was effective at P<0.05 level.

KEYWORDS: Effectiveness, MBSR Meditation, Stress, Cancer.

INTRODUCTION:

Cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell growth. Our bodies are composed of trillions of cells, all working together. In cancer, one of those cells stops paying attention to the normal signals that cancer cells to grow, stop growing or even to die. Cancer cells still share many of the same needs and properties of normal cells but they become independent of the controls that make our body function smoothly. The process by which a normal cell changes into one that behaves so abnormally can take a long time and is often triggered by outside influences¹.

Stress is one of the common problems in cancer patients, much research demonstrating that cancer patients suffer from a significant amount of psychological distress. The assessment of psychological distress does not only play a role within epidemiological/basic research but also increasingly within routine clinical practice.²

Meditation is one of several relaxation methods evaluated and found to be of possible benefit by an independent panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The panel found that it might be a useful complementary therapy for treating chronic pain and sleeping problems such as insomnia. Some cancer treatment centers offer meditation or relaxation therapy with standard medical care.³

NEED OF THE STUDY:

According to world cancer report in Geneva, 3 April 2012 - Cancer rates could increase by 50% to 15 million new cases in the year 2020, the most comprehensive global examination of the disease to date. However, the report also provides clear evidence that healthy lifestyles and public health action by governments and health practitioners could stem this trend, and prevent as many as one third of cancers worldwide.⁴

Malotra T M, (2013) In India, which accounts for over thirty per cent of all type of cancers, reported and cancer control is quickly becoming a global health priority. This paper provides a synopsis of the incidence of oral cancer in India by focusing on its measurement in cancer registries across the country. . In the year 2000, malignant tumors were responsible for 12 per cent of the nearly 56 million deaths worldwide from all causes. In many countries, more than a quarter of deaths are attributable to cancer. In 2000, 5.3 million men and 4.7 million women developed a malignant tumor.⁵

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that regular meditation can reduce chronic pain, anxiety, high blood pressure, cholesterol, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans, and blood cortisol levels that are increased by stress (sometimes called “stress hormones”), as well as reducing the use of health care services.⁶

OBJECIVES:

1. To plan and implement mindfulness stress reduction meditation on Cancer patients.

2. To compare the level of stress before and after meditation therapy among cancer patients.

3. To determine the association between mean difference in stress level and selected background factors among cancer patients.

4. To assess the influence of meditation on health improvement in cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Research design: Pre experimental research design - One group pre test – post test

Setting: The study was conducted at kaveri hospitals at mandya district.

Population: The populations comprise cancer patients who are in kaveri hospital mandya district.

Sample: Selected 30 samples from kaveri hospital

Sampling Technique: The samples were selected for this study by “Non-Probability Convenient” sampling technique.

Data Analysis: The data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods.

FINDINGS:

Ø The present study found that, the pre test stress level among 30 respondents, 21 (70%) had moderate stress level scores, 9 (30%) had severe stress level and no subjects had mild stress level. In the pre-test the mean value was 110.6 with standard deviation of 13.11.

Ø The present study found that, the post-test stress level scores among 30 respondents 16(53.33%) had mild stress scores, 14 (46.67%) had moderate stress scores and no one had severe stress score. In post-test the mean value was 84.13 with a standard deviation of 11.56.

Ø In the present study, the post test mean score was 84.13with the standard deviation of 11.56.when comparing to pre test mean score 110.6 with standard deviation of 13.11 ,it was significantly higher and computed paired‘t’ value 16.5 is higher than the table value 2.05, which shows the MBSR meditation was effective at P<0.05 level. Majority of the respondents 15(50%) are belong s to the age group of 40-49 years, 8(26%) of the respondents are belongs to the age group of 30-39 years, 4 (13.33%) respondents are belongs to 20-29 years and 3(10%) of respondents are belongs to above 50 years of age.

Ø Among respondents 20(66.67%) are male and 10(33.33%) are female.

Ø Among respondent’s 17(56.67%) are suffered by cancer illness 1-2 years, 9(30%) are suffered for 3-5 years and 2(6.67%) of respondents are suffered for less than 1 year and2(6.67%) of respondents are suffered for above 5 years of duration.

Ø Among respondents majority of them 28(93.33%) are married, 2(6.67%) are single, 0(0%) are divorced and 0(0%) are widow.

Ø Among respondents majority of them 22(73.33%) are Hindu, 6(20%) are Muslim, 2(6.67%) are Christian, and 0(0%) are others (Jain).

Ø Majority of the respondents 27(90%) are living in nuclear family, 3 (10%) are living in joint family and no one living in extended family.

Ø Majority of the respondents 12(40%) are having primary education, 10(33.33%) are having secondary, 6(20%) are having under graduate and 2(6.67%) are illiterate.

Ø Among respondents majority of them 25(83.33%) are labor workers and 5(16.67%) are private employees and no government employees.

Ø Among respondents, 25(83.33%) respondents are getting monthly family income as less than Rs.10, 000/-, 5(16.67%) respondents are having monthly family income of Rs.10, 000/- to Rs.20, 000/- and no respondents are having monthly family income of more than Rs.20, 000/-.

Ø Among respondents 26(86.67%) are place of residence is rural area, and 4(11.11%) are having place of residence urban area and no one is in tribal area.

CONCLUSION:

The result shows that the stress level was reduced after implementation of the MBSR meditation programme to cancer patients. The study concludes that the MBSR meditation programme is an effective method in reducing stress level among cancer patients.

REFERENCES:

1. Brunner and Suddarth, Text book of Medical Surgical Nursing, 12 edition, volume-2, New Delhi, Welters Kluwer Private Limited, 2010, pp 230-285.

2. C Nalin, Jeyavanthasantha, Psychosocial Problems of the Cancer Patients, The Nursing Journal of India, 2012 April, Volume 2, pp 845-858.

3. RK Gupta, New approach to Mental Health Nursing, 1 Edition, Jalandar City, S Vikas and Company (Medical Publishers), 2011, pp 336-364.

4. Nicola Sharon Graham, Lathavenkatesan, Ajithavir, Jelius, Prevalence of cancer and effectiveness of structured teaching program on prevention of cancer, Indian Journal of Holistic Nursing, Dec 2003, vol-4, pp22-25.

5. Malhotra TM, Kristica, Steinmetz, John D, Potter, Daniel, et al, Incidence Rate of Cancer, [Internet], supported by NIH grants, volume 2, Minnesoton, Kluwer Academic Publishers, DOI10,1007/BF005/672, pp 325-357

6. National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine,[Internet],Bethesda and Maryland, July 2008, pp 1-15.

Received on 30.07.2015 Modified on 22.08.2015

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2016; 6(2): 188-190.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2016.00034.3