Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26608664›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2015

Effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies for palliative care of cancer: overview of systematic reviews.

Xinyin Wu, Vincent C H Chung, Edwin P Hui, Eric T C Ziea, Bacon F L Ng, Robin S T Ho, Kelvin K F Tsoi, Samuel Y S Wong, Justin C Y Wu

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
22.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

48 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 132 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Guideline
  2. 2023 MASCC/ESMO consensus antiemetic guidelines related to integrative and non-pharmacological therapies.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. MASCC/ISOO expert opinion on the management of oral problems in patients with advanced cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022
    Guideline
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Effect of acupuncture in myelosuppression and quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a randomized clinical study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Trial
  10. Trial
  11. Trial
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Acupuncture in cancer care: a narrative review.Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992) · 2024
    Review
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Xinyin WuHong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Vincent C H ChungHong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Edwin P HuiHong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Eric T C ZieaChinese Medicine Department, Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Hong Kong.
Bacon F L NgChinese Medicine Department, Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Hong Kong.
Robin S T HoJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Kelvin K F TsoiJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Samuel Y S WongHong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Justin C Y WuHong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Chinese University of Hong Kong · CNHong Kong Jockey Club · CNHospital Authority · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Acupuncture and related therapies such as moxibustion and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation are often used to manage cancer-related symptoms, but their effectiveness and safety are controversial. We conducted this overview to summarise the evidence on acupuncture for palliative care of cancer. Our systematic review synthesised the results from clinical trials of patients with any type of cancer. The methodological quality of the 23 systematic reviews in this overview, assessed using the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews Instrument, was found to be satisfactory. There is evidence for the therapeutic effects of acupuncture for the management of cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and leucopenia in patients with cancer. There is conflicting evidence regarding the treatment of cancer-related pain, hot flashes and hiccups, and improving patients' quality of life. The available evidence is currently insufficient to support or refute the potential of acupuncture and related therapies in the management of xerostomia, dyspnea and lymphedema and in the improvement of psychological well-being. No serious adverse effects were reported in any study. Because acupuncture appears to be relatively safe, it could be considered as a complementary form of palliative care for cancer, especially for clinical problems for which conventional care options are limited.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyPalliative CareDyspneaHiccupHumansNauseaNeoplasmsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeVomitingXerostomia

Identifiers

PMID26608664
PMCPMC4660374
OpenAlexW2175720231

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.