Dados do Resumo

Título

Mindfulness in Pain Relief for Oncology Patients: A Literature Review

Introdução

Meditation is a practice for regulating the body and mind. Mindfulness, or full attention, involves the state of awareness of body and mind in the present experience. This practice is included in the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC), established by ordinance no. 971. The relationship between nursing and Mindfulness has been growing in recent years, especially within the context of Primary Care. About 50% of people with cancer experience pain during treatment. Considering the importance of nurses in monitoring the health-disease process and the impact of pain on oncology patients, this research is justified by questioning the use of the Mindfulness meditation practice by nurses in managing pain in oncology patients.

Objetivo

To verify in the literature the identification of scientific evidence that the Mindfulness meditation technique is effective in relieving pain in oncology patients by nurses.

Métodos

This is an integrative literature review defined by the PICO strategy, followed by the guiding question: In oncology patients with pain complaints, can the practice of Mindfulness help in pain management compared to traditional treatments? The project was approved by the Scientific Committee of the Nursing Program (CCE) of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), protocol no. 012/23. The research was conducted in the following databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), Virtual Health Library, and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline). The descriptors used were Mindfulness, Referred Pain, Neoplasms, Nursing; Meditation, Pain Referred, Neoplasm, Nurse.

Resultados

Nine scientific articles describing the advancement of Mindfulness in Oncology were considered for this study. For example, the MSBR technique has shown efficacy in breast cancer survivors with chronic neuropathic pain, offering an alternative pathway for pain management. Through regular mindfulness practice, patients develop greater awareness of their bodily sensations, learning to relate to pain in a less reactive and more acceptable way. Similarly, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been investigated for its potential to mediate the relationship between mindfulness and persistent pain in women treated for primary breast cancer. The results suggest that mindfulness may act as an important statistical mediator, reducing pain intensity and improving patients' ability to cope with chronic pain.

Conclusões

The effectiveness of Mindfulness meditation in the oncology context reflects a broader understanding of health and disease, recognizing the inseparable connection between mind and body. This practice not only offers a form of symptomatic relief but also empowers patients by providing them with a sense of control over their disease experience. By learning to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, patients can develop a healthier relationship with their condition, reducing the psychological impact of cancer and its treatments. Thus, the role of nurses as facilitators of this practice not only enriches the spectrum of care available to patients but also highlights the importance of treatment approaches that honor the complexity of the human experience in the context of illness and healing.

Financiador do resumo

Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo.

Palavras Chave

Mindfulness; Pain; Oncology Nursing