Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38372234›Full record

SynthesisIntegrative cancer therapies

Efficacy of Moxibustion for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Hye-Ri Bae, Eun-Ji Kim, Yo-Chan Ahn, Jung-Hyo Cho, Chang-Gue Son, Nam-Hun Lee

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Integrative cancer therapies. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 11% 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

11 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Article
  6. From traditional warming and tonifying to psychoneuroimmunology: theoretical reconstruction and clinical application of moxibustion for cancer-related fatigue.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Review
  7. Integrating English and Chinese evidence on acupuncture and moxibustion for cancer-related fatigue (CRF): a decade of research and clinical recommendations.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Observational
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

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Hye-Ri BaeEast-West Cancer Center, Cheonan Korean Medical Hospital, Daejeon University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0001-8894-1793
Eun-Ji KimEast-West Cancer Center, Cheonan Korean Medical Hospital, Daejeon University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
Yo-Chan AhnDepartment of Health Service Management, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Jung-Hyo ChoEast-West Cancer Center, Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Chang-Gue SonEast-West Cancer Center, Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Nam-Hun LeeEast-West Cancer Center, Cheonan Korean Medical Hospital, Daejeon University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-5039-2423
Daejeon University · KR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionBreast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, and most patients experience fatigue. However, there are no effective treatments for cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have suggested that moxibustion improves CRF. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the differences in fatigue scale scores, quality of life, and clinical efficacy in patients with breast cancer who developed CRF and did versus did not receive moxibustion.

methodsRCTs were searched in 7 databases using a standardized search method from database inception to March 2023, and RCTs that met the inclusion criteria were selected.

resultsAmong 1337 initially identified RCTs, 10 RCTs involving 744 participants were selected for this study. The meta-analysis involved assessment of the revised Piper Fatigue Scale scores, Cancer Fatigue Scale scores, Karnofsky Performance Scale scores, Athens Insomnia Scale scores, clinical efficacy, and Qi deficiency syndrome scale scores. Compared with the control, moxibustion was associated with significantly better Piper Fatigue Scale scores (

conclusionsMoxibustion improves CRF in patients with breast cancer. The efficacy of moxibustion should be further examined by high-quality studies in various countries with patients subdivided by their breast cancer treatment status. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO ID: CRD42023451292.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsMoxibustionFatigueFemaleHumansQuality of LifeTreatment Outcomebreast cancercancer-related fatiguefatiguemeta-analysismoxibustion

Identifiers

PMID38372234
PMCPMC10878217
OpenAlexW4391941800

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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.