What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for mental health outcomes in breast cancer survivors and inform local implementation strategies.

May 19, 2026Open Access

Supporting Uptake of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Breast Cancer Survivors: Generating Locally Relevant Estimates of Benefit

Key Points

The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for mental health outcomes in breast cancer survivors and inform local implementation strategies.
Conducted a literature review identifying seven studies published since 2007
Held a workshop with clinical experts to discuss relevance and impact of intervention characteristics
Performed subgroup meta-analyses based on elicited differences in intervention characteristics
Stakeholder engagement revealed context-specific insights on the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions
Identified factors such as encouraging home practice and instructor training as important for local relevance
Provided insights to refine eligibility criteria for relevant studies and subgroup analyses

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Mindfulness-based interventions are effective in supporting a range of mental health outcomes for breast cancer survivors, yet they are not routinely offered as part of cancer care in Australia. Economic evaluations can support uptake decisions but are often limited by lack of context specific information on outcomes. This study conducted structured stakeholder engagement to inform a meta-analysis to generate relevant effect estimates of mindfulness-based interventions for breast cancer survivors. Method A literature review identified seven studies published since 2007. A workshop was convened to present information on the study population and characteristics of the mindfulness-based interventions to clinical experts to consider the relevance of the study populations to the local population and the impact of intervention characteristics on published effect estimates. Responses informed the inclusion of relevant primary studies and subgroup meta-analyses based on important elicited differences in intervention characteristics. Results Structured stakeholder engagement provided context- and intervention-specific insights on factors expected to affect the relevance, feasibility and effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in the local context. These insights informed exclusion criteria for primary studies and relevant subgroups for meta-analyses, including an additional 6-hr session, encouragement of home practice and instructor training and experience. Conclusions This paper outlines a systematic method for contextualising published evidence for a specific context through structured stakeholder engagement. It explores strategies to address uncertainties, including broadening review criteria for meta-regression, expert elicitation to refine effect estimates and the use of economic evaluation to evaluate the magnitude of incremental effects required to demonstrate cost-effectiveness. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.

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