Listening in: Identifying Considerations for Integrating Complementary Therapy into Oncology Care Across Patient, Clinic, and System Levels—A Case Example of a Digital Meditation Tool

Abstract

Purpose: As cancer treatments and survival rates continue to improve, integrating supportive complementary therapies into oncology practice is increasingly important. Identifying patient- and clinic-level considerations can guide the selection and integration of evidence-based and effective therapies. Using the Behavioural Design Space (BDS), this study illustrates how a design framework can facilitate the identification of patient needs, clinic requirements, and system-level constraints prior to implementing a digital meditation tool (DMT). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of cancer patients in active treatment to assess distress, attitudes, barriers, and knowledge of meditation. Descriptive statistics and binary multivariate logistic regressions examined associations between patient characteristics and interest in meditation or using a DMT. Findings were mapped onto the six elements of the BDS framework in consultation with clinic staff. Results: Among 148 patients surveyed, 65% had never meditated, yet 42% expressed interest in using a DMT. Greater engagement in stress-coping activities was the strongest predictor of interest in both learning meditation and using a DMT. Female sex increased, while age decreased, the odds of interest in using a DMT. Conclusions: Integrating complementary therapies into oncology care requires attention to patient, clinic, and system-level factors. The BDS framework can guide the therapy/tool selection process by highlighting patient needs, potential barriers, and implementation challenges. Future work should focus on operationalizing the BDS into a practical decision-making tool for healthcare providers.