Body Scan Meditations to Support Well-Being in Patients at Antwerp University Hospital.

Overview

INWARD is a pilot study designed to explore whether audio-guided body scan meditations can support well-being in adult patients receiving care in the haematology and oncology departments, including the day hospital, at Antwerp University Hospital (UZA). The intervention consists of three body scan recordings offered in addition to standard care. Patients can choose one recording per session and may repeat a recording or try another during the study period. There is one intervention group and no control group. The study protocol includes a questionnaire about patients' bodily and mental experiences and heart rate measurements before and after listening. Patients' feedback is also intended to inform the further development of the INWARD body awareness kit. The study forms part of a practice-based doctoral research project in the arts.

INWARD was designed as a single-centre, prospective interventional pilot study in the haematology and oncology wards and the oncology-haematology day hospital at Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), departments V02, V18 and VOH. The intervention comprises three audio-guided body scan meditations focusing on breathing (Ademen), bodily support (Ondersteunen) and embracing one's body (Omarmen). Participants access the recordings through a webpage using a QR code and listen through headphones. The participant information specifies respective durations of 11 minutes 6 seconds, 11 minutes 18 seconds and 21 minutes 47 seconds. Participants choose one complete recording per session and may repeat sessions during the study period. Standard medical care remains unchanged. The study was designed to recruit adult patients aged 18 years or older from the participating departments, without selection based on a specific diagnosis. There is one intervention group, with no randomisation, blinding or control group. The protocol specifies heart rate readings before and after each body scan session, obtained using a blood volume pulse sensor and entered into an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire is completed after listening and records the selected body scan, previous use, mindfulness-related responses, perceived bodily and mental states before and after the session, an overall evaluation of the experience, and additional feedback. The study explores patients' experiences and the potential contribution of the body scans to well-being. Their feedback also informs the further development of the INWARD body awareness kit. Developed from an artistic and educational practice of bodily awareness, the study forms part of the practice-based doctoral research project "When the artist swallows his image".