Effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on quality of sleep among patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effects of MBIs on quality of sleep in patients with cancer and explore methods, intervention and participants' characteristics as moderators to the effects.

Method

Ten electronic databases were searched from inception to October 2024 including Ovid Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, APA PsycINFO, Age line, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, and ScienceDirect. We reviewed studies on quality of sleep outcomes for patients with cancer receiving mindfulness-based interventions based on Buddhist teaching. We only reviewed randomized controlled trials written in English. A random-effects model was used to compute the effect size. We used Funnel plot, Q statistics, and I² to test the heterogeneity across studies. Also, we examined moderators to explore sources of heterogeneity.

Results

Across 25 included studies providing 26 comparisons (N = 2263), 1157 cancer patients participated in mindfulness interventions; 1106 served as controls. Most cancer patients were males (s = 14). Mean age ranged from 39.02 to 70.86 yrs. (Mean = 53.70, SD = 6.52). Overall, MBIs had a moderate effect on improving quality of sleep among cancer patients (g = 0.598, 95 %CI 0.332, 0.864, p < .001, I² = 88 %). Funding and time of outcome measure were moderators affecting ES. No primary studies reported the adverse effects.

Conclusion

MBIs significantly improved quality of sleep among patients with cancer. Clinicians should consider using MBIs as alternative complementary treatment for improving quality of sleep among patients with cancer.