Mindfulness-based interventions in oncology: A scoping review of outcomes and applications

Abstract

Cancer significantly impacts patients' physical and mental health, leading to a wide range of effects from physical pain to psychological issues such as anxiety and depression, severely diminishing their quality of life. As an emerging psychosomatic intervention, mindfulness interventions have gained increasing attention. This scoping review systematically searches and filters relevant literature, covering databases from their inception to January 2025, aiming to comprehensively outline the application, research characteristics, and main outcomes of mindfulness interventions in cancer recovery. We employed the Arksey and O'Malley framework, utilizing electronic databases and manual searches to rigorously select studies and extract key data. Results indicate that mindfulness interventions show broad potential in improving cancer patients' mental health, physical symptoms, and quality of life, despite the heterogeneity of the evidence. Future research should focus on higher-quality randomized controlled trials to explore different intervention modalities and long-term effects and to analyze their underlying mechanisms. This paper particularly highlights the advancements in Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery, providing valuable references for clinical practice.

Keywords: Mindfulness; Cancer; Psychosomatic intervention; Scoping review; Mental health; Quality of life

Core Tip: This scoping review synthesizes evidence on Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) in oncology, demonstrating their potential to improve mental health, physical symptoms, and quality of life for cancer patients. Utilizing the Arksey and O'Malley framework, the review highlights the broad application of MBIs, particularly Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery. Despite variability among previous studies, findings suggest that MBIs are promising psychosomatic interventions. Future research should prioritize high-quality randomized controlled trials to elucidate long-term effects and mechanisms, providing robust clinical guidance for integrating mindfulness into cancer care.