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A systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine interventions for the management of cancer-related fatigue.

Integrative cancer therapies
July 1, 2013
Jennifer Finnegan-John et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of massage, among other CAM interventions, in reducing cancer-related fatigue.

Results Summary

The review found limited evidence suggesting massage may help reduce cancer-related fatigue, but most studies were methodologically weak and at high risk of bias, making conclusions uncertain.

Population

Patients experiencing fatigue during or after cancer treatment.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
hypnosis
decrease
cancer-related fatigue
people undergoing treatment for cancer
-
may prevent rises
#1
ginseng
decrease
cancer-related fatigue
people undergoing treatment for cancer
-
may prevent rises
#2
acupuncture
decrease
cancer-related fatigue
following cancer treatments
-
may reduce
#3
biofield healing
decrease
cancer-related fatigue
following cancer treatments
-
may reduce
#4
multivitamins
no change
cancer-related fatigue
-
-
ineffective at reducing
#5
Abstract

Fatigue, experienced by patients during and following cancer treatment, is a significant clinical problem. It is a prevalent and distressing symptom yet pharmacological interventions are used little and confer limited benefit for patients. However, many cancer patients use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and some evidence suggests it may relieve fatigue. A systematic review was conducted to appraise the effectiveness of CAM interventions in ameliorating cancer-related fatigue. Systematic searches of biomedical, nursing, and specialist CAM databases were conducted, including Medline, Embase, and AMED. Included papers described interventions classified as CAM by the National Centre of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and evaluated through randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental design. Twenty studies were eligible for the review, of which 15 were RCTs. Forms of CAM interventions examined included acupuncture, massage, yoga, and relaxation training. The review identified some limited evidence suggesting hypnosis and ginseng may prevent rises in cancer-related fatigue in people undergoing treatment for cancer and acupuncture and that biofield healing may reduce cancer-related fatigue following cancer treatments. Evidence to date suggests that multivitamins are ineffective at reducing cancer-related fatigue. However, trials incorporated within the review varied greatly in quality; most were methodologically weak and at high risk of bias. Consequently, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude with certainty the effectiveness or otherwise of CAM in reducing cancer-related fatigue. The design and methods employed in future trials of CAM should be more rigorous; increasing the strength of evidence should be a priority.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Complementary TherapiesFatigueHumansHypnosisNeoplasmsPanaxPatient SelectionRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTime FactorsTreatment Outcome
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy60/10
Quality50/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations100
Citations/Year8.3
Relative Citation Ratio4.38
NIH Percentile91.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score0.66
Normalized Score0.54
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