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NCT Number: NCT07834021

Body Scan Meditations to Support Well-Being in Patients at Antwerp University Hospital.

INWARD is a pilot study designed to explore whether audio-guided body scan meditations can support well-being in adult patients receiving care in the haematology and oncology departments, including the day hospital, at Antwerp University Hospital (UZA).

The intervention consists of three body scan recordings offered in addition to standard care. Patients can choose one recording per session and may repeat a recording or try another during the study period. There is one intervention group and no control group.

The study protocol includes a questionnaire about patients' bodily and mental experiences and heart rate measurements before and after listening. Patients' feedback is also intended to inform the further development of the INWARD body awareness kit. The study forms part of a practice-based doctoral research project in the arts.

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Key information

Conditions

Well-Being Neoplasms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Antwerp University Hospital (UZA)

Edegem, Antwerp, 2650, Belgium

About this study

INWARD was designed as a single-centre, prospective interventional pilot study in the haematology and oncology wards and the oncology-haematology day hospital at Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), departments V02, V18 and VOH.

The intervention comprises three audio-guided body scan meditations focusing on breathing (Ademen), bodily support (Ondersteunen) and embracing one's body (Omarmen). Participants access the recordings through a webpage using a QR code and listen through headphones. The participant information specifies respective durations of 11 minutes 6 seconds, 11 minutes 18 seconds and 21 minutes 47 seconds. Participants choose one complete recording per session and may repeat sessions during the study period. Standard medical care remains unchanged.

The study was designed to recruit adult patients aged 18 years or older from the participating departments, without selection based on a specific diagnosis. There is one intervention group, with no randomisation, blinding or control group.

The protocol specifies heart rate readings before and after each body scan session, obtained using a blood volume pulse sensor and entered into an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire is completed after listening and records the selected body scan, previous use, mindfulness-related responses, perceived bodily and mental states before and after the session, an overall evaluation of the experience, and additional feedback.

The study explores patients' experiences and the potential contribution of the body scans to well-being. Their feedback also informs the further development of the INWARD body awareness kit. Developed from an artistic and educational practice of bodily awareness, the study forms part of the practice-based doctoral research project "When the artist swallows his image".

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 18 years or older.
  • Receiving care in one of the participating haematology or oncology departments at Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), including the oncology-haematology day hospital: departments V02, V18 and VOH.
  • Providing informed consent to participate.

Exclusion criteria

-No additional diagnosis-specific or medical exclusion criteria are specified in the protocol.

Treatment and study plan

INWARD audio-guided body scan meditations

Behavioral

Three voice- and sound-guided body scan meditations accessed through a QR-linked webpage and listened to using headphones. The recordings focus on breathing (Ademen), bodily support (Ondersteunen) and embracing one's body (Omarmen), with respective durations of 11 minutes 6 seconds, 11 minutes 18 seconds and 21 minutes 47 seconds. Participants choose one complete recording per session and may repeat sessions during the study period.

Primary outcomes

  1. Patient-reported bodily and mental experience of body scan meditation

    Time frame: After each body scan session (approximately 11-22 minutes); pre-session feelings are recalled in the post-session questionnaire.

    A study-specific electronic questionnaire records participants' bodily and mental experiences after listening to a body scan meditation. It includes seven mindfulness-related items with five ordered response categories, multiple-choice descriptions of perceived feelings before and after the session, an overall evaluation of the experience, and an opportunity to provide additional feedback. No composite scoring method is specified in the study protocol.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in heart rate following body scan meditation

    Time frame: Before and after each body scan session (approximately 11-22 minutes).

    Heart rate, expressed in beats per minute, is recorded before and after listening to a body scan meditation. The protocol specifies measurement using a blood volume pulse sensor, with readings entered into the electronic questionnaire. The outcome is the post-session heart rate minus the pre-session heart rate, expressed in beats per minute.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universiteit Antwerpen

Other

Collaborators

  • Artesis Plantijn University College, Antwerp
  • University Hospital, Antwerp

Registry information

Official study title

Inward: A Study on the Improvements in Patients' Well-being Through the Use of Body Scan Meditations.

Acronym: INWARD

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Sep 22, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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