Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) training: the efficacy on fatigue and sleep quality of Iranian female patients with cancer

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) training on fatigue and sleep quality of Iranian female patients with cancer. Method: Thirty female patients with cancer were randomized to one of the MBCR and control groups. Subjects of the MBCR group received 8 sessions of MBCR training, while subjects of the control group received a 1-day didactic stress management seminar (SMS). All participants responded to the Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFT) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQL) as pre- and post-test measures. Results: Using MANCOVA for analyzing data revealed a significant improvement in the level of fatigue among subjects of the MBCR group compared to the controls; however, MBCR had no significant effect on the level of sleep quality. Conclusion: The Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery program can be considered an effective approach to reducing fatigue for Iranian female patients with cancer. The clinical implications of this finding require further investigation. Trial registration: The study was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) on 24 June 2024; see [IRCT20240315061296N1].