Abstract P1-11-12: Effect of wearable wellness brain sensing mindfulness-based technology in newly diagnosed surgical breast cancer patients: A randomized intervention
Authors: Pruthi S , Millstine DM , Bhagra A , Nguyen M-D 
Published: May 2019

Introduction: There is insufficient knowledge about the feasibility and effect of mind-body intervention on QOL and stress at initial diagnosis and shortly after undergoing breast cancer surgical treatment. The pre-operative and post-operative period can be stressful, distressing and anxiety provoking for many women. Mind-body interventions such as meditation, relaxation and mindfulness can offset distress and is an option to cope with the stresses of treatment. We investigated the role of wearable mindfulness based technology in patients newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

Methods: This randomized study compared the Muse EEG mindfulness sensing headset device (n=16) to a stress reduction education control group (n=13). Primary outcomes included quality of life (QOL), stress, and fatigue via validated, standardized scales/subscales: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapies – General (FACT-G), Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory – Short Form (MFSI-SI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Participants from an academic cancer center were randomized to the wearable device or stress education material prior to surgery. Participants completed questionnaires at initial diagnosis and at specific time points during the breast cancer surgical journey: pre-surgery, post-surgery (2 weeks), and at 3 months. Usage was directly from Muse and via written log. Was It Worth It (WIWI) survey was conducted at 3 months.

Results: Mindfulness via the headset devise was feasible and worthwhile (71.4% intervention group). The scales of QOL, fatigue, and stress improved in both groups at 3 months compared to baseline (MFSI-E, MFSI-M, MFSI-V, FACT-EWB, and PSS). Participants randomized to the mindfulness headset device had improved fatigue and QOL at 2 weeks post-operatively (MFSI-E, MFSI-V, MFSI-T, FACT-PWB, FACT-EWB) and in total MFSI at 3 months. The results were not significantly different between groups. High mindfulness headset utilizers (&gt;30 sessions) compared to below average utilizers differed at the 3 month visit in fatigue and QOL (MFSI-G, MFSI-P, FACT-PWB, and FACT-Total).

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the use of wearable mindfulness sensing headset device was feasible, simple to use, low cost, and integrated into the surgical breast cancer journey. Overall, among breast cancer patients undergoing surgery there was improvement in QOL, fatigue, and stress with mind-body interventions around surgery compared to baseline. Participants randomized to the wearable mindfulness headset device trended toward outcomes sooner (2 week follow-up) and with high utilization. Further research is needed to determine significance of these outcomes and long term impact in care of cancer survivors.

Citation Format: Pruthi S, Millstine DM, Bhagra A, Nguyen M-D. Effect of wearable wellness brain sensing mindfulness-based technology in newly diagnosed surgical breast cancer patients: A randomized intervention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-11-12.