In this study we will run a randomised controlled trial of an online mindfulness program (called MindOnLine) for people living with breast, bowel or prostate cancer. MindOnLine is a 9-week program comprising several components including videos, guided audios, self-reflections and goal setting to help guide mindfulness practice. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group with immediate access to MindOnLine, or a waitlist group who will receive access to MindOnLine after the last follow up point. The aims of this study are to determine the effect of MindOnLine on fear of cancer recurrence, anxiety and depression. Participants will be asked to complete questionaries at baseline, 9 weeks and 9 months. The primary outcome of this study will be a change in fear of cancer recurrence at 9-weeks. An economic analysis will be conducted to inform the cost-effectiveness of the program. This study focuses on breast, bowel and prostate cancer as three of the most common cancers among men and/or women in Australia. Findings will be used to describe the effectiveness in improving wellbeing outcomes of people living with cancer.
After this randomised controlled trial, the MindOnLine program will be rolled out across Australia with partner organisations such as the Department of Health and Human Services, PCFA and Breast Cancer Network of Australia. This program will be freely available to all men living with prostate cancer. Findings will be disseminated to the wider research community through presentations at national and international conferences and manuscripts will be submitted to peer reviewed journals for publication.
Fear of cancer recurrence is a highly prevalent and persistent condition that can result in significant levels of anxiety and depression across the disease trajectory. There is an urgent need to address this issue and early psychosocial support is critical to prevent this problem from becoming a chronic condition. Our recent work into early psychosocial support indicates it may be possible to significantly reduce this level of suffering through a mindfulness program. Mindfulness is a state of mind in which one pays attention to the present experience in a nonjudgmental, curious, accepting way. It has been associated with substantially improved mental health outcomes and management of the emotional consequences of cancer. Using an iterative process MindOnLine has been developed and pilot tested among people living with melanoma and showed a significant reduction in fear of cancer recurrence. Working with our partners, including sector leaders in Government, health services, consumer advocacy and community partner organisations, we are conducting a randomised controlled trial of an updated version of the program (called MindOnLine) across three different cancer streams – breast, prostate and colorectal cancer – to determine the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and sustainability of this innovative intervention.
In this study we will run a randomised controlled trial of an online mindfulness program (called MindOnLine) for people living with breast, bowel or prostate cancer. MindOnLine is a 9-week program comprising several components including videos, guided audios, self-reflections and goal setting to help guide mindfulness practise. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group with immediate access to MindOnLine, or a waitlist group who will receive access to MindOnLine after the last follow up point. Participants who are allocated to receive MindOnLine are encouraged to watch short videos to learn about mindfulness once a week and to practice mindfulness each day. To measure the impact of MindOnLine on wellbeing outcomes, participants will be asked to complete questionaries at baseline, 9 weeks and 9 months. Men have said about the program in the past: “I found the use of breathing as an “anchor” quite profound, yet so simple.” “I particularly like the video that explained why we see things the way we do. This really put everything into perspective for me.” For more information or to register visit: https://mindonline.org.au
To be eligible you must be over the age of 18, speak and read English, have access to the Internet and have finished treatment within the last five years. Men with local, locally advanced cancers, those under active surveillance (watch and wait) and men receiving hormonal therapy (ADT) are eligible.
Contact: Professor Trish Livingston trish.livingston@deakin.edu.au
To help keep this community a welcoming, supportive and caring place we have put together a small list of dos and don'ts for you to think about when posting on our forum, research blog or video gallery.
For further information please see our terms and conditions, and to contact the Online Community team please email onlinecommunity@pcfa.org.au or call 1800 22 00 99.
Adhere to PCFA’s five core values of Integrity, Optimism, Compassion, Respect and Commitment.
Our online forum is for you to share experiences with others and does not contain specific medical, counselling or legal advice. If you require professional advice specific to your individual circumstances we encourage you to see a medical professional, legal professional or counsellor.
No commercial or promotional activity. While members may share information about resources they have found helpful, the PCFA Online Community forum should not be used for the promotion of goods and services. This includes commercial entities passing themselves off as individuals and people who frequently post links to external health professionals or other services.
Be kind to each other - many people using the community are going through a difficult time. A few kind words can go a long way. Please welcome new posters – it can be very nerve-wracking to post on the forum for the first time.
If you or someone you know is suffering from mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, we encourage you to seek assistance and contact Beyond Blue Tel:1300 224 636 or Lifeline Tel:13 11 14
Speak your mind freely, but please be sensitive to the feelings and experiences of others - you might not always agree, but you can agree to disagree in a peaceful manner.
Don't use offensive language -if a user is found to be using offensive language during their conversations the moderators reserve the right to edit the thread, without warning.
Don't use all capital letters in your posts - it's considered ‘shouting' online and it makes posts difficult to read.
Give each other the benefit of the doubt - please remember that it is all too easy for the tone and meaning of posts to be misinterpreted. Think carefully before replying to a discussion. it It is important to remember that things written rather than said can feel much stronger, so please bear this in mind when reading other people's messages.
Please respect the moderators - their job is to keep the forum safe and constructive so that everybody gets to have his or her fair say.
Stay on topic - try to focus on the original topic. In particular, don't change subject in the middle of an existing thread - just start a new thread.
Read what's already on the forum before posting - you may be repeating what others have already said or asked.
We want PCFA's Online Community to be a secure and helpful environment for all of the community. So please remember that by using PCFA's Online Community you are agreeing to follow our terms and conditions.