Files and links (2)
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Symptom Management in Palliative Cancer Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Medicine, Vol.95(9), pp.1-13
07/03/2016
PMCID: PMC4782866
PMID: 26945382
Metrics
45 File views/ downloads
11 Record Views
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Abstract
Available systematic reviews showed uncertainty on the effectiveness of using acupuncture and related therapies for palliative cancer care.
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize current best evidence on acupuncture and related therapies for palliative cancer care.
Five international and 3 Chinese databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture and related therapies with conventional or sham treatments were considered. Primary outcomes included fatigue, paresthesia and dysesthesias, chronic pain, anorexia, insomnia, limb edema, constipation, and health-related quality of life, of which effective conventional interventions are limited.
Thirteen RCTs were included. Compared with conventional interventions, meta-analysis demonstrated that acupuncture and related therapies significantly reduced pain (2 studies, n = 175, pooled weighted mean difference: −0.76, 95% confidence interval: −0.14 to −0.39) among patients with liver or gastric cancer. Combined use of acupuncture and related therapies and Chinese herbal medicine improved quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (2 studies, n = 111, pooled standard mean difference: 0.75, 95% confidence interval: 0.36–1.13). Acupressure showed significant efficacy in reducing fatigue in lung cancer patients when compared with sham acupressure. Adverse events for acupuncture and related therapies were infrequent and mild.
Acupuncture and related therapies are effective in reducing pain, fatigue, and in improving quality of life when compared with conventional intervention alone among cancer patients. Limitations on current evidence body imply that they should be used as a complement, rather than an alternative, to conventional care. Effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies for managing anorexia, reducing constipation, paresthesia and dysesthesia, insomnia, and limb edema in cancer patients is uncertain, warranting future RCTs in these areas.
Details
- Title
- Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Symptom Management in Palliative Cancer Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Creators
- Charlotte H. Y. Lau - The Chinese University of Hong KongXinyin Wu - The Chinese University of Hong KongVincent C. H. Chung - The Chinese University of Hong KongXin Liu - The Chinese University of Hong KongEdwin P. Hui - The Chinese University of Hong KongHolger Cramer - University of Duisburg-EssenRomy Lauche - University of Duisburg-EssenSamuel Y. S. Wong - The Chinese University of Hong KongAlexander Y. L. Lau - The Chinese University of Hong KongRegina S. T. Sit - The Chinese University of Hong KongEric T. C. Ziea - The Chinese University of Hong KongBacon F. L. Ng - The Chinese University of Hong KongJustin C. Y. Wu - The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Publication Details
- Medicine, Vol.95(9), pp.1-13
- Publisher
- Wolters Kluwer Health
- Identifiers
- 991013035754202368
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License 4.0, where it is permissible to download, share and reproduce the work in any medium, provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health; National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article