RecruitingInterventionalPhase 3

Med-RT BG: An Interventional Trial Using Guided Meditation During Radiation Therapy for Breast and Gynecological Malignancies

NCT ID: NCT07166042Sponsor: University of UtahLast updated: 2025-10-03

Summary

The goal of this study is to assess the effect of brief mindfulness-guided meditations during radiation therapy (RT) for patients with anxiety related to RT for breast and gynecological cancers.

Arms & interventions

Behavioral10-15 minute, Audio-Recorded Guided Mediation Practices
The 5 mindfulness practices, all of which have been validated in prior research. Body Scan practice will consist of how to direct non-judgmental attention to different regions of the body The Mindful Breathing practice will consist of focused attention on the breath and metacognitive monitoring and acceptance of discursive thoughts, negative emotions, and body sensations. The Mindfulness of Discomfort practice will consist of instruction in how to "zoom in" to deconstruct discomfort and precisely map each feelings' spatial location, use mindful breathing to "zoom out" and broaden the field of awareness to include neglected sensory elements, and shift attention from unpleasant feelings to neutral/pleasant sensations or experiences. The Savoring practice will consist of instruction in identifying and amplifying pleasant memories. The Loving-Kindness practice will consist of instruction in cultivating feeling of warmth and compassion toward the self and others.

Outcome measures

Primary

Change in acute anxiety in participants receiving mindfulness intervention during RT compared to standard of care control conditions.
To assess the acute anxiolytic effects of a brief mindfulness intervention during radiation therapy (RT) for patients with anxiety related to RT for breast and gynecological cancers. Acute anxiety during RT will be measured at each treatment visit with an individual item ("How nervous, anxious or on edge do you feel right now?" scored on a 0 (not at all) to 10 (Very much). derived from the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item (GAD-2) scale, measured before and after RT. The change from before to after RT will be averaged over all treatment visits.
Time frame: 7 weeks

Secondary

Change in anxiety in everyday life in participants receiving mindfulness intervention during RT compared to standard of care control conditions.
Time frame: 7 weeks
Change in anxiety during RT and in everyday life as measured by the modified MPoD
Time frame: 7 weeks
Change in self transcendence and the magnitude/degree of increased self transcendence will predict degree of anxiety in the course of daily life as measured by total score of the Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment (NADA).
Time frame: 7 weeks

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No

Inclusion Criteria: * Participant aged ≥ 18 years. * Diagnosis of breast or gynelogical cancer. * Eligible to receive 15-25 daily radiation therapy treatments for breast or gynelogical cancer. * Willing to participate in either the guided meditation or standard of care control arm, regardless of treatment assignment. * Karnofsky performance score ≥ 60 or ECOG performance score ≤ 2. * Able to provide informed consent and willing to sign an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines. Exclusion Criteria: * Active suicidal ideation or active psychotic state in the opinion of the investigator. * Patient is receiving deep inspiration breath hold treatment. * An unstable illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with study treatment. * Prior radiation therapy. * Inability to understand and/or speak the English language.

Study locations (1)

Huntsman Cancer Institute at University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112

Recruiting

Rachel Kingsford · Contact

801-585-0115 rachel.kingsford@hci.utah.edu