Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27875389›Full record

Trial reportMenopause (New York, N.Y.)2017

Comparative effectiveness of electro-acupuncture versus gabapentin for sleep disturbances in breast cancer survivors with hot flashes: a randomized trial.

Sheila N Garland, Sharon X Xie, Qing Li, Christina Seluzicki, Coby Basal, Jun J Mao

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
30citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
6.4field-weighted citation impact, top 5% 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

30 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 57 citations in OpenAlex.

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  9. Survivorship, Version 2.2017, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN · 2017
    Guideline
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  13. The effect of acupuncture on hot flashes and sleep disturbances in women with breast cancer receiving endocrine therapy: a pre-post quasi-interventional study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Sheila N Garland1Department of Psychology 2Division of Oncology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada 3Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology 4Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 5Integrative Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
Sharon X Xie
Qing Li
Christina Seluzicki
Coby Basal
Jun J Mao
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · USUniversity of Pennsylvania · USMemorial University of Newfoundland · CA

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI Hongbiao Carl Lekaye · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
Elucidating the placebo effects of acupuncture: hot flashes as a clinical modelK23AT004112 · NCCIH · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI MAO, JUN J · 2008 to 2012
$659k
NCCIH NIH HHS K23 AT004112NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveSleep disturbance is a major consequence of hot flashes among breast cancer survivors. This study evaluated the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) versus gabapentin (GP) for sleep disturbances among breast cancer survivors experiencing daily hot flashes.

methodsWe analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial involving 58 breast cancer survivors experiencing bothersome hot flashes at least two times per day. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 8 weeks of EA or daily GP (total dose of 900 mg/d). The primary outcome was change in the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score between groups at week 8. Secondary outcomes include specific PSQI domains.

resultsBy the end of treatment at week 8, the mean reduction in PSQI total score was significantly greater in the EA group than the GP group (-2.6 vs -0.8, P = 0.044). The EA also had improved sleep latency (-0.5 vs 0.1, P = 0.041) and sleep efficiency (-0.6 vs 0.0, P = 0.05) compared with the GP group. By week 8, the EA group had improved sleep duration, less sleep disturbance, shorter sleep latency, decreased daytime dysfunction, improved sleep efficiency, and better sleep quality (P < 0.05 for all) compared with baseline, whereas the GP group improved in duration and sleep quality only (P < 0.05).

conclusionsAmong women experiencing hot flashes, the effects of EA are comparable with GP for improving sleep quality, specifically in the areas of sleep latency and efficiency. Larger randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups are needed to confirm this preliminary finding.

Indexed as

PostmenopauseAcupuncture TherapyAdultAgedAminesAnti-Anxiety AgentsBreast NeoplasmsCyclohexanecarboxylic AcidsFemaleGabapentingamma-Aminobutyric AcidHot FlashesHumansMiddle AgedSleep Wake DisordersTreatment OutcomeAminesAnti-Anxiety AgentsCyclohexanecarboxylic AcidsGabapentingamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Identifiers

PMID27875389
PMCPMC5403590
OpenAlexW2555763413

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
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.