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Original research
Mindful breathing for cancer pain: efficacy of a single 20-minute session – a randomised controlled study
  1. Seng Beng Tan1,
  2. Chee Shee Chai2,
  3. Diana Leh Ching Ng2,
  4. Sheriza Izwa Zainuddin3,
  5. David Paul Capelle3,
  6. Chee Loong Lam3,
  7. Chui Munn Ang3,
  8. Win Lin Chai3,
  9. Nik Natasha Nik Ishak3,
  10. Yu Xiang Ong3 and
  11. Ying Xi Ngu3
  1. 1 Department of Palliative Medicine, Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
  2. 2 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
  3. 3 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Diana Leh Ching Ng, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia; nlcdiana{at}unimas.my

Abstract

Objectives Cancer pain is a prevalent and challenging symptom affecting a significant number of patients globally, with inadequate control remaining a substantial challenge despite advancements in pain management. Non-pharmacological interventions, including mindfulness-based approaches, have shown promise in alleviating cancer-related pain. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of a single session of 20-minute mindful breathing in reducing pain among patients with cancer.

Methods A randomised controlled study was conducted at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, involving adult cancer inpatients with a pain score of ≥4/10. Participants were randomly assigned to a 20-minute mindful breathing intervention or a 20-minute supportive listening control group. Outcome measures included pain intensity, pain unpleasantness and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score, assessed before and after the intervention.

Results The 20-minute mindful breathing sessions demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing pain intensity, pain unpleasantness and anxiety compared with the control group.

Conclusion This research broadens the repertoire of cancer pain management by highlighting the rapid and holistic benefits of a single session of 20-minute mindful breathing. The findings suggest the potential integration of brief mindfulness exercises into routine cancer care to enhance pain management and overall well-being.

  • Terminal care
  • Pain
  • Supportive care

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request. Data are available upon reasonable request. Data are kept as hardcopy and soft copy by the authors.

https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2023-004762

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    Data availability statement

    Data are available upon reasonable request. Data are available upon reasonable request. Data are kept as hardcopy and soft copy by the authors.

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    Footnotes

    • Collaborators Nil.

    • Contributors Study design: SBT, CSC, DLCN. Recruitment: YXO, YXN. Statistical analyses: SBT, YXN. Manuscript preparation: SBT, CSC, DLCN, SIZ, DPC, CLL, CMA, WLC, NNNI. SBT and DLCN are the guarantor.

    • Funding The study was supported by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme of the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia (FRGS/1/2019/SKK02/UNIMAS/02/01). The funding body only financially supported the study, and did not take part in the design of the study; or collection, analyses and interpretation of the data; or writing of the manuscript.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.