Effectiveness of acupuncture for palliative care in cancer patients: a systematic review
Item
Title
Effectiveness of acupuncture for palliative care in cancer patients: a systematic review
Author(s)
Journal Publication
Date
2014
volume
20(2)
pages
136-147
Research Type
Systematic Review
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To critically evaluate the currently available randomized clinical trials regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients, hence, to provide sufficient evidences for the widespread use of acupuncture in cancer treatment. METHODS: Two independent reviewers extracted data from all of the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients. Seven databases were searched from their respective inception to December 2010. All eligible trials identified were evaluated by two independent reviewers using the Jadad scale, and data from the articles were validated and extracted. RESULTS: In total, 33 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The effects of acupuncture on different cancer-related aspects were shown, including chemotherapy or radiotherapy-induced side effects (13/33, 39.4%), cancer pain (6/33, 18.2%), post-operative urinary retention (4/33, 12.1%), quality of life (2/33, 6.1%), vasomotor syndrome (2/33, 6.1%), post-operative gastrointestinal dysfunction (2/33, 6.1%), prevention of prolonged postoperative ileus (2/33, 6.1%), joint symptoms (1/33, 3.0%), and immunomodulation (1/33, 3.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The result of our systematic review suggested that the effectiveness of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients is promising, especially in reducing chemotherapy or radiotherapyinduced side effects and cancer pain. Acupuncture may be an appropriate adjunctive treatment for palliative care.
doi
10.1007/s11655-013-1439-1
pmid
Date of Input: 6/9/2015; Date Modified: 6/9/2015; Availability: --In File--; Priority: Normal; School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.; eng; Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=24338183
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has health condition studied
Neoplasms
has study population number
0