Mindfulness for attention in young people treated for a brain tumour
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility and acceptability of brief mindfulness meditations for attention in young people treated for a brain tumour
IRAS ID
275429
Contact name
Lorna French
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Integrity and Governance Office
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Children and young people who have had oncological treatment for brain tumours often experience difficulties with attention as the result of the tumour and the treatment itself. These attentional difficulties can be of a similar pattern to those with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with particular deficits in focusing and sustaining attention. Mindfulness is a longstanding meditation technique that has been suggested to improve sustained focus and switching of attentional resources. Recent research has indicated that mindfulness may be an effective intervention for attention in young people with ADHD. This study therefore aims to investigate whether brief mindfulness exercises are a feasible and acceptable intervention for attention in children who have had treatment for brain tumours. Young people (aged 8-17 years) who have completed oncological treatment and present with attentional difficulties will be invited to participate in the study. Up to 40 participants and their caregivers will be invited to the Royal Marsden Hospital to complete computerised and questionnaire-based measures of attention, in addition to secondary questionnaire-based measures of anxiety and depression, emotion and behaviour. They will then attend a Mindfulness Workshop that will give some background to the concept of mindfulness and give the opportunity to practice a number of brief mindfulness meditations. Participants will then use the Smiling Mind smartphone application for one month, through which they can access a range of age-appropriate mindfulness meditations. Participants will then be invited back into the Royal Marsden Hospital after one month; outcome measures will be repeated and participants will complete a Questionnaire of Acceptability.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0114
Date of REC Opinion
23 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion