Background: Palliative care addresses not only physical symptoms but also emotional and spiritual suffering in patients with advanced disease. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may help alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life. Previous reviews have explored MBIs’ efficacy, but evidence remains inconclusive. Objective: To systematically evaluate the effects of MBIs on pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients receiving palliative care. Methods: Six databases and grey literature were searched from databases inception to 22 May 2025. Outcomes included pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Meta-analyses with forest plots estimated pooled standardised mean differences (SMDs). Egger’s test assessed publication bias, and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis evaluated result stability. Results: Thirteen trials were included. MBIs significantly reduced anxiety (SMD = −0.68, 95% CI = −1.15 to −0.21, I 2 = 65.37%, p < 0.001) and depression (SMD = −0.43, 95% CI = −0.68 to −0.18, I 2 = 0.00%, p < 0.001). Effects on pain and quality of life were less clear, with insufficient evidence to confirm significant benefit. Conclusions: MBIs appear to alleviate anxiety and depression in palliative care patients, highlighting their potential as supportive interventions. Further research is warranted to clarify effects on pain and quality of life.
Saragih et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: