Mindfulness Meditation in Bone Marrow Transplantation

Patients will be assigned to one of three study groups:

• receives the normal standard care;
• meets with an oncology nurse educator, in addition to the regular nurses on the transplant team. The nurse educator will provide information and answers to patient's questions about the stem cell/bone marrow transplant experience; or
• is taught mindfulness meditation by a nurse who is trained to be a mindfulness instructor and by an audio CD.

Mindfulness meditation is a technique that may help in coping with the stress and difficulties associated with cancer and undergoing a stem cell/bone marrow transplant. It involves learning to be in the present moment by paying attention to your breathing, sights, and sounds, and to sensations you may be experiencing, or thoughts and feelings you may be having.

Mindfulness meditation has been shown to be helpful to patients in the clinic who have cancer and other medical conditions.

Patients, regardless of random group assignment, will complete a questionnaire 8 different times, from before they are admitted to the hospital until 6 months after discharge.

Patients will also provide two urine samples while in the hospital to measure the levels of stress hormones present in the urine.

Inclusion criteria

• Autologous stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancy
• First transplant
• 21 years of age or older
• Speaks and understands English

Exclusion criteria

• Planned tandem (more than one) transplant
• Taking corticosteroids on a regular basis for a chronic condition
• Prior formal mindfulness meditation training
• Significant cognitive impairment and/or confirmed psychosis or thought disorder