Self-reported outcomes and associated factors among patients with cancer completing Mongolian mind-body interaction therapy: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction Patients with malignant tumors face physical illness and psychological distress. Mongolian mind-body interaction therapy (MMBIT) is a group-based intervention combining modern psychology with traditional Mongolian medicine. As a complementary oncology approach, MMBIT supports conventional evidence-based care. This study characterized the demographic and clinical profiles of MMBIT participants and identified therapeutic factors associated with reported benefits. Methods A cross-sectional analysis included 1590 patients with cancer who completed the 21-session MMBIT course. A 121-item questionnaire assessed self-reported outcomes across six domains: physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, positive emotions, life conditions, health knowledge, and perceived treatment efficacy. One-sample t-tests, Pearson correlations, nonparametric group comparisons, and multivariable linear regression were used. Results Participants reported favorable outcomes across all six domains, with mean scores significantly above the neutral midpoint of the 5-point scale (all P < 0.001). The highest ratings were observed for health knowledge (4.55 [0.58]), life conditions (4.43 [0.67]), and positive emotions (4.35 [0.70]). Greater MMBIT engagement, particularly video-based participation, was positively associated with more favorable self-reported outcomes (r = 0.21–0.34). Farmers, herdsmen, and participants with lower educational attainment reported higher outcome scores (P < 0.001); lower educational attainment remained the strongest independent predictor after multivariable adjustment. Participants reported lower use of surgery and radiation/chemotherapy and greater use of Mongolian medicine following MMBIT; however, treatment appropriateness and clinical indications were not assessed, so these findings should not be interpreted as evidence that MMBIT can replace conventional treatment. Conclusions MMBIT participation was associated with favorable self-reported outcomes across multiple health domains among patients with cancer. However, the cross-sectional design, reliance on self-reported measures, and selection bias from including only therapy completers limit causal interpretation. Future prospective controlled studies incorporating objective clinical outcomes are needed to validate these findings and clarify MMBIT’s potential role as a culturally grounded supportive care intervention.