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Mindful self-compassion for lung cancer (MSC-LC): Incorporating perspectives of lung cancer patients, clinicians, and researchers to create an adapted intervention to reduce lung cancer stigma

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Stigma is a pervasive and distressing problem experienced frequently by lung cancer patients, and there is a lack of psychosocial interventions that target the reduction of lung cancer stigma. Mindful self-compassion (MSC) is an empirically supported intervention demonstrated to increase self-compassion and reduce feelings of shame and distress in non-cancer populations. However, there are several anticipated challenges for delivering MSC to lung cancer patients, and modifications may be needed to improve acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. PURPOSE: To gather feedback from lung cancer patients, psycho-oncology researchers, expert MSC teachers, and oncology clinicians to identify themes supporting the adaptation of MSC to reduce lung cancer stigma. METHODS: We conducted a two-phase process of stakeholder focus groups with researchers and clinicians (n=12) and semi-structured interviews with lung cancer patients (n=14) with elevated stigma. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Five themes were identified: (i) Patients expressed a desire for an intervention that bolstered self-compassion and addressed stigma; (ii) Intervention instructions were acceptable and understood clearly; (iii) Patients preferred intervention content to directly address lung cancer and stigma yet mentioned that doing so should be done with sensitivity; (iv) Ambivalence about delivering the intervention in person or remotely; (v) Acceptance for an intervention of 8-weeks (or longer) with 90-minute sessions and a group size of ≤ 15. CONCLUSIONS: Findings informed the development of an adapted clinical protocol for MSC for lung cancer (MSC-LC), which can be pilot tested to determine implementation outcomes (e.g. acceptability, feasibility, efficacy).

Source: Translational Behavioral Medicine

DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibae074