TY - JOUR
T1 - Acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing for breast cancer
T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
AU - Lee, Phoebe Lyssandra Tan
AU - Tam, Ka Wai
AU - Yeh, Mei Ling
AU - Wu, Wei Wen
PY - 2016/8/1
Y1 - 2016/8/1
N2 - Researches have accumulated using non-pharmacologic interventions including acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing to manage breast cancer-related symptoms. Results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) can get contradictory. Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to determine the effects on the quality of life, negative emotions and disease-related symptoms among women with breast cancer. Methods Two independent researchers performed a structured search using data sources including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed and PsychINFO from the beginning of time until the first week of January 2015. A total of 23 acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing RCTs were included in the review. Results The study showed that no single intervention could be put under the spotlight exhibiting an overall effective result on all measured outcomes; however, looking into each one in detail shows different results in specific outcomes. Among the three interventions, acupoint stimulation has a treatment effect for general pain (MD = −1.46, 95% CI = −2.38 to −0.53) and fatigue (MD = −2.22, 95% CI = −3.68 to −0.77), massage therapy has a treatment effect for anxiety (MD = −0.50, 95% CI = −0.77 to −0.24), and expressive writing has a treatment effect for quality of life (MD = 7.18, 95% CI = 0.38 to 13.98). The measurement other outcomes showed either ineffective or equivocal results. Conclusion Non-pharmacologic interventions including acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing have an effect on a middle-age woman with breast cancer. However, because of limitations, the seemingly promising results should be interpreted with caution.
AB - Researches have accumulated using non-pharmacologic interventions including acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing to manage breast cancer-related symptoms. Results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) can get contradictory. Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to determine the effects on the quality of life, negative emotions and disease-related symptoms among women with breast cancer. Methods Two independent researchers performed a structured search using data sources including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed and PsychINFO from the beginning of time until the first week of January 2015. A total of 23 acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing RCTs were included in the review. Results The study showed that no single intervention could be put under the spotlight exhibiting an overall effective result on all measured outcomes; however, looking into each one in detail shows different results in specific outcomes. Among the three interventions, acupoint stimulation has a treatment effect for general pain (MD = −1.46, 95% CI = −2.38 to −0.53) and fatigue (MD = −2.22, 95% CI = −3.68 to −0.77), massage therapy has a treatment effect for anxiety (MD = −0.50, 95% CI = −0.77 to −0.24), and expressive writing has a treatment effect for quality of life (MD = 7.18, 95% CI = 0.38 to 13.98). The measurement other outcomes showed either ineffective or equivocal results. Conclusion Non-pharmacologic interventions including acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing have an effect on a middle-age woman with breast cancer. However, because of limitations, the seemingly promising results should be interpreted with caution.
KW - Acupoint stimulation
KW - Anxiety
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Expressive writing
KW - Massage therapy
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - Pain
KW - Quality of life
KW - Systematic review
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.06.003
DO - 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.06.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 27515882
AN - SCOPUS:84978110461
VL - 27
SP - 87
EP - 101
JO - Complementary Therapies in Medicine
JF - Complementary Therapies in Medicine
SN - 0965-2299
ER -