Effectiveness of a Mindfulness Smartphone App to Reduce Emotional Distress in People With Cancer Waiting for Surgery
NCT ID: NCT04184557
Last Updated: 2021-07-20
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
102 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2019-02-15
2020-04-01
Brief Summary
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Evidence suggests that around 11% of people with cancer suffer from anxiety or adjustment disorders and 6,5% hold a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Moreover, the perioperative period is the most distressing phase of the illness. However, a high number of patients do not have access to mental health services due to either limited resources and geographical limitations or the fear of being stigmatized. The aim is to explore the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention for smartphones designed to reduce pre-surgical distress. It was conceived as a medical tool of prevention), with the purpose of diminishing emotional suffering and clinical complications after surgery. In 2020 Internet will be the most developed technology and almost everyone will have a smartphone; hence, an app for stress reduction will fit in this growing field.
Mindfulness is defined as the ability to pay attention to the present moment with a curious, non-judgmental attitude. Its training consists of both formal meditation practices and informal daily exercises. Mindfulness-based interventions are growing in our National Health System and rigorous researches are being conducted exhibiting good results regarding its effectiveness. However, the fact that Mindfulness instructors must be highly qualified makes these kinds of interventions exceedingly costly to implement. This team is experienced with mindfulness and has developed the app "En Calma en el Quirófano" ("Staying Calm in the OR") to reduce distress before surgery. It consists of a free, accessible, on-demand, short training through a series of guided meditation practices.
In this randomized controlled trial, participants are assigned either to the experimental ("Staying Calm in the OR") or the control arm (treatment as usual). The investigators expect anxiety and depression to be lower in the experimental arm; in addition, the researchers expect that "Staying Calm in the OR" participants will show higher levels of post-surgery recovery.
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Detailed Description
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Evidence suggests that around 11% of people with cancer suffer from anxiety or adjustment disorders and 6,5% hold a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Moreover, the perioperative period is the most distressing phase of the illness. However, a high number of patients do not have access to mental health services due to either limited resources and geographical limitations or the fear of being stigmatized. The aim is to explore the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention for smartphones designed to reduce pre-surgical distress. It was conceived as a medical tool of prevention), with the purpose of diminishing emotional suffering and clinical complications after surgery. In 2020 Internet will be the most developed technology and almost everyone will have a smartphone; hence, an app for stress reduction will fit in this growing field.
Mindfulness is defined as the ability to pay attention to the present moment with a curious, non-judgmental attitude. Its training consists of both formal meditation practices and informal daily exercises. Mindfulness-based interventions are growing in our National Health System and rigorous researches are being conducted exhibiting good results regarding its effectiveness. However, the fact that Mindfulness instructors must be highly qualified makes these kinds of interventions exceedingly costly to implement. This team is experienced with mindfulness and has developed the app "En Calma en el Quirófano" ("Staying Calm in the OR") to reduce distress before surgery. It consists of a free, accessible, on-demand, short training through a series of guided meditation practices.
In this randomized controlled trial, participants are assigned either to the experimental ("Staying Calm in the OR") or the control arm (treatment as usual). The investigators expect anxiety and depression to be lower in the experimental arm; in addition, the researchers expect that EnCalma participants will show higher levels of post-surgery recovery.
Main hypothesis. Anxiety and depression symptoms will be significantly lower in the experimental arm after Staying Calm in the OR" training.
Secondary hypotheses. Recovery after surgery will be higher amongst participants in the experimental arm, who will exhibit fewer post-surgical complications, lower rates of hospitalizations, lower levels of analgesia, shorter hospitalizations and a better quality of life.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
DOUBLE
Study Groups
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App "Staying Calm in the OR"
"Staying Calm in the OR" is a mindfulness-based stress-reduction smartphone tailored for people who are waiting for surgery. It consists of a free, accessible, on-demand, short training through a series of guided meditation practices. They are based on widely studied mindfulness-based programs, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or Mindfulness Self Compassion (MSC).
Staying Calm in the OR
"Staying Calm in the OR" is a mindfulness-based stress-reduction smartphone tailored for people who are waiting for surgery. It consists of a free, accessible, on-demand, short training through a series of guided meditation practices. They are based on widely studied mindfulness-based programs, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) ir Mindfulness Self Compassion (MSC).
Treatment as Usual (TAU)
Participants assigned to Treatment As Usual (TAU) arm will not download the app until the study is completed.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Staying Calm in the OR
"Staying Calm in the OR" is a mindfulness-based stress-reduction smartphone tailored for people who are waiting for surgery. It consists of a free, accessible, on-demand, short training through a series of guided meditation practices. They are based on widely studied mindfulness-based programs, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) ir Mindfulness Self Compassion (MSC).
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Diagnosis of cancer
* Being in waitlist for surgery for less than 14 days
* Signed informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
* Not having a smartphone
* Not being able to download and use the smartphone app "Calm before Surgery"
18 Years
100 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Beatriz Rodríguez-Vega, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
La Paz University Hospital; Madrid Autonomous University
Locations
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12 Octubre University Hospital
Madrid, , Spain
La Paz University Hospital
Madrid, , Spain
Countries
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Related Links
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Download "En Calma en el Quirófano" for iOS
Download "En Calma en el Quirófano" for Android
Other Identifiers
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EC-CS
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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