The Effects of Meditation therapy on Anxiety and Spiritual Well-being in End-Stage Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective : objective: To study effects of meditation therapy on anxiety and spiritual well-being in End-stage cancer patients.

Method : The research used the quasi-experimental method, one group was tested before and after the meditation therapy. The sample subjects were 26 end stage cancer patients who received treatment from the Khon Kaen Hospital.  The selection of the sample used the consecutive sampling method. The research instruments consisted of 4 parts: 1) Personal information; 2) Anxiety evaluation forms (State-anxiety: Form X-I) by Spielberger et al. (1966), translated into Thai by Nittaya Kochapakdee, Sairudee Worakijpokathorn and Malee Nisaisuk (1988). 3) Spiritual well-being evaluation form by Paloutzion and Ellison (1982), translated into Thai by Thaniya Noipieng (2002), and 4) Vidhisa Meditation Manual. There were meditation record form and meditation tracking form by the researcher. The data collect used the interview form. The results presentation were presented by mean, percentage and standard deviation. The data analyzing used the descriptive and the Paired t-test statistics.

Results : The research found the samples’ mean anxiety after meditation therapy was statistic significantly lower than before the meditation therapy (p< 0.001; 95%CI  22.60 -28.78). The samples’ mean spiritual well-being after meditation therapy was statistic significantly higher than before the meditation therapy. [ p< 0.001; 95%CI  (-18.01) - (-13.45)].

Conclusion : This research shows that the Vidhisa meditation therapy can reduce anxiety and increase spiritual well-being in the end-stage cancer patients. Therefore, nurses should apply the Vidhisa meditation to other groups of cancer stages and advanced stage, both in-patients and out-patients, for they could receive a comprehensive and holistic care.