Mindfulness Meditation in Bone Marrow Transplantation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The main purpose of this study is to examine techniques to help patients cope better with the stem cell/bone marrow transplant procedure.

Detailed Description
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Patients will be assigned to one of three study groups: receives the normal standard care; meets with an oncology nurse educator, in addition to the regular nurses on the transplant team. The nurse educator will provide information and answers to patient's questions about the stem cell/bone marrow transplant experience; or is taught mindfulness meditation by a nurse who is trained to be a mindfulness instructor and by an audio CD. Mindfulness meditation is a technique that may help in coping with the stress and difficulties associated with cancer and undergoing a stem cell/bone marrow transplant. It involves learning to be in the present moment by paying attention to your breathing, sights, and sounds, and to sensations you may be experiencing, or thoughts and feelings you may be having. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to be helpful to patients in the clinic who have cancer and other medical conditions. Patients, regardless of random group assignment, will complete a questionnaire 8 different times, from before they are admitted to the hospital until 6 months after discharge. Patients will also provide two urine samples while in the hospital to measure the levels of stress hormones present in the urine.

Official Title
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Mindfulness Meditation in Bone Marrow Transplantation

Conditions
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Hematologic Malignancy, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Stem Cell Transplantation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Mindfulness training
* Behavioral: Nurse education


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Autologous stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancy First transplant 21 years of age or older Speaks and understands English Exclusion Criteria: Planned tandem (more than one) transplant Taking corticosteroids on a regular basis for a chronic condition Prior formal mindfulness meditation training Significant cognitive impairment and/or confirmed psychosis or thought disorder

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Usual Care<br>Normal standard of care | |
| Active Comparator: Nurse education<br>Meets with oncology nurse | Behavioral: Nurse education<br>* Meets with oncology nurse to have questions answered about medical treatments and side effects<br>|
| Experimental: Mindfulness training<br>Taught Mindfulness meditation | Behavioral: Mindfulness training<br>* Taught mindfulness meditation by mindfulness instructor (trained health care professional/RN) and audio c/d<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Psychological functioning |  | 1 year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of days to bone marrow engraftment |  | 1 year | 
| Medication use |  | 1 year | 
| Urinary stress hormones (cortisol and catecholamines) |  | 1 year | 
| Transplant related complications |  | 1 year | 
| Hospital length of stay and re-hospitalizations |  | 1 year | 
| Physical symptoms |  | 1 year | 
| Quality of life |  | 1 year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Meditation, Mindfulness meditation, Bone Marrow Transplant, Stem Cell Transplant