Compassion for Female Breast Cancer and Gynaecological Cancer Patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled clinical trial to investigate whether participating in an 8-week compassion-based training for female breast cancer and gynaecological cancer patients improves levels of stress, compassion, mindful states, life satisfaction, meaning of life, post-traumatic growth, self-criticism/self-reassurance, emotion regulation, attachment, salivary hormones and heart rate.
IRAS ID
193348
Contact name
Julia Wahl
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Derby
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
32822 (submission nr), ISRCTN
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Primary objectives:
• To investigate if an 8-week training programme based on compassion is associated with changes in post-traumatic growth, self-compassion, mindful states, stress, satisfaction, emotion regulation, self-criticism/self-reassurance, attachment and meaning of life as assessed by questionnaires - compared to a control group – no-treatment (intervention) concurrent control,• To investigate if psychological interventions based on mindfulness and compassion influence physiological stress systems that are linked to important health outcomes (changes in heart rate variability, secretory Immunoglobulin A, salivary oxytocin and salivary cortisol as assessed by physiological measures).
Secondary objectives:
• To determine if offering an 8-week compassion based training to breast cancer and gynaecological cancers patients would be feasible for the NHS, as determined by uptake and continued participation in the classes, and information from focus groups.
• Focus group data with participants will explore any additional benefits of the compassion intervention.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0477
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion