The Effects of Laughter Yoga and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Practices Applied to Women With Breast Cancer

Launched by KAFKAS UNIVERSITY · Oct 31, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring the effects of two different approaches—laughter yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)—on women who are currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. The goal is to see how these practices can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, improve overall quality of life, and enhance spiritual well-being in these patients. Since chemotherapy can have tough side effects like pain, nausea, and emotional distress, finding supportive therapies like laughter and mindfulness could be beneficial.

To participate in this study, women must be 18 years or older, able to use a smartphone, and currently receiving chemotherapy at least once a month. They should also have high enough anxiety or depression levels, as indicated by a specific screening tool. However, women with more advanced cancer stages, those who have been on chemotherapy for over a year, or those using similar therapies outside of the study would not be eligible. Participants can expect to engage in group sessions that focus on these therapeutic practices to help improve their mental and emotional health during their treatment journey.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Women who are 18 years of age or older, do not have communication problems, have and can use a smartphone, do not have internet problems to participate in group sessions, volunteer to participate in the study, receive chemotherapy at least once a month and will continue to receive chemotherapy during the study. Women with stage 1 and stage 2 breast cancer, women with primary and secondary education, women within the first year of treatment in terms of the number of cycles, women with a score of 8 or more on the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (0-7 points are normal, 8- A score of 10 is borderline, 11 and above indicates abnormality).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Women who did not meet the inclusion criteria, refused to participate in the study, and participated in less than 80% of the research practices (It is recommended to participate in at least 6 out of 8 sessions in the literature (Liu et al. 2022).),
• • Women who use mindfulness therapy, laughter therapy or any complementary or integrative medicine in their daily lives outside the research, women who have a diagnosed psychological disease, metastasis or recurrence, and whose chemotherapy treatment was terminated before the study was completed,
• • Women with stage 3 and stage 4 breast cancer, women who have been receiving chemotherapy for more than 1 year, women whose scores are 8 or below on the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (0-7 points indicate normal, 8-10 points indicate borderline, 11 and above indicate abnormality ).