Previous Studies
Studies that have been completed by the Carlson team, to learn more click on the links below!
The MATCH Study
As more people survive cancer, the importance of research on effective interventions for improving quality of life amongst survivors is growing. Two interventions with a substantial evidence-base are Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) and Tai chi/Qigong (TCQ). However, these interventions have never been directly compared and they may help cancer patients in different ways.
The Fear of Cancer Recurrence Implementation Study
Fear of cancer recurrence is the fear, worry, or concern that cancer may come back or progress. It is the number one unmet need of cancer survivors, with up to 79% reporting fear of cancer recurrence post treatment. Previous literature suggests that the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Therapy (FORT) is effective in reducing fear of cancer recurrence among cancer survivors. The purpose of this study is to assess the implementation of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Therapy (FORT) at five hospitals in Canada, including the Arthur J. E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. To assess how we can best implement FORT, participants will be offered the FORT intervention by 3 clinicians once a week for a period of 6 weeks. Results will inform how we can best implement FORT at the Arthur Child Cancer Centre.
The Mindful-Gut Study
We are conducting this study because we want to know if a mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR) program can cause a positive change in the gut microbiome, which is the community of microbes (i.e. bacteria, fungi, and viruses) in your gut. The gut microbiome has been shown to be negatively affected by cancer treatments, and we hope that this MBCR program will reduce the long-term gastrointestinal symptoms caused by these cancer treatments. With 45% of Canadians expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, many Canadians have and will be living with these chronic symptoms. As such, our study hopes to find that the MBCR program will improve the overall mental and physical health of people living with cancer by changing the gut microbiota for the better. Understanding this will help us to promote inexpensive and accessible programs to help people with cancer and to develop new ways to reduce chronic health problems after treatment for cancer
Integrative Oncology Clinic - Pilot Study
The Integrative Oncology Clinic is a pilot project that aims to provide personalized, patient-centered, safe and culturally sensitive recommendations on the use of complementary and integrative treatments for patients who are undergoing cancer treatment.
The ONE-MIND study
The ONE-MIND study was a study that aimed to help people coping with cancer by providing an online mindfulness meditation program called Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery to those undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
The Virtual Mind Study
We are conducting a study to evaluate to what extent virtual reality guided meditation is acceptable and appealing to cancer patients and survivors. Some studies have found that meditation improves pain and quality of life. More research is needed to determine if meditation delivered through a virtual reality headset is helpful to improve persistent pain problems in people with cancer.
To learn more, click on the link provided.
I-CAN Sleep Study
I-CAN Sleep was a comparative effectiveness type of study, comparing two active interventions for cancer survivors.
Learn more by clicking the link below to view the publications from this study!
eCALM study
The eCALM study was conceptualized in response to the unmet needs we had observed over many years of providing in-person MBCR programs.
Learn more by clicking the link below to view the publications from this study!
The MINDSET Study
MINDSET was the first of a number of comparative effectiveness clinical trials undertaken by our group, with the intention to compare MBCR to an already established and efficacious psychosocial intervention for cancer survivors.
Learn more by clicking the link below to view the publications from this study!
Mind-in-Motion Study
Our group has always been interested in the mechanisms of change when people participate in MBCR, and so we designed the Mind-in-Motion study to evaluate the role of a few key mechanistic candidates including emotion regulation strategies and mindfulness facets.
Learn more by clicking the link below to view the publications from this study!
LITE Study
The LITE study was a novel intervention we tested to tackle the difficult problem of ongoing cancer-related fatigue (CRF). CRF is a chronic condition for many cancer survivors and makes it nearly impossible to return to normal work and social roles due to extreme exhaustion that is not relieved by rest.
Learn more by clicking the link below to view the publications from this study!
MASTER Study
The MASTER trial was designed to look at the effects of the MBCR program on acute laboratory stress reactivity, and was the Masters project of Dr. Laura Labelle.
Learn more by clicking the link below to view the publications from this study!
Mindfulness for IBS Study
I had been approached many years ago by a gastroenterologist colleague who had an interest and practice of mindfulness. He wondered if an MBSR group might help his patients with irritable bowel syndrome; hence this study was born.
Learn more by clicking the link below to view the publications from this study!