Impact of loving-kindness meditation intervention vs. music intervention during biopsy on adherence to recommended breast cancer screening.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of providing a loving-kindness meditation (LKM) intervention vs. a music intervention during core-needle breast biopsy (CNBB) on adherence to subsequent, clinically recommended breast cancer screening and surveillance.

METHODS

Women (N = 120) were randomly assigned to receive LKM, Music, or Usual Care during CNBB. Patients in the LKM or Music groups listened to audio recordings during CNBB and were provided recordings for home use. Utilization of subsequent recommended breast imaging was assessed via health record review for 18 months into the breast cancer surveillance period.

RESULTS

The sample was, on average, 53 years old (SD = 12.4), partnered (55%), and employed (56%); 28% Black and 68% White. Adherence to recommended breast imaging post-biopsy was: 69% for Usual Care, 71% for Music, and 90% for LKM. Compared to Usual Care, there was no significant difference in adherence for the Music group (OR = 1.11, 95% CI [0.43, 2.89], p = 0.829), but the LKM group was 3.9 times more likely to be adherent (OR = 3.89, 95% CI [1.13, 13.41], p = 0.032). Comparisons between intervention arms showed adherence for the LKM group was 3.5 times higher than the Music group (OR = 3.50, 95% CI [1.02, 12.00], p = 0.046). Patterns of adherence were similar across women with an abnormal biopsy result and those with a benign result.

CONCLUSION

A LKM intervention initiated during CNBB can have significant, positive impacts on women's adherence to subsequent recommended breast imaging. Providing patients with LKM during CNBB is an easily disseminated approach that could improve adherence to breast cancer screening and surveillance after CNBB.

© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.