SynthesisJournal of clinical nursing2026
Fan Therapy for Alleviating Dyspnea in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of clinical nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDyspnea is a prevalent and profoundly distressing symptom. Fan therapy, a simple nonpharmacologic intervention, has shown potential in alleviating dyspnea. However, its effects remain unclear.
objectiveWe aimed to update and expand the existing evidence on the effectiveness and perceptions of fan therapy in adults with dyspnea to inform clinical symptom management.
methodsThis review followed PRISMA 2020. A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data and Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database, from inception through March 20, 2025. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Quantitative synthesis was performed using Review Manager software, version 5.3. Qualitative findings were synthesized narratively.
resultsThis review included 15 studies (623 participants). In meta-analysis, the overall effect on dyspnea severity was not statistically significant; however, post hoc subgroup analysis by outcome assessment timing showed a significant short-term reduction within 5-10 min after fan therapy (SMD = -0.41, 95% CI: [-0.70, -0.11], p = 0.007, I
conclusionsFan therapy may provide short-term relief of dyspnea in adults, with limited evidence of sustained benefit and no consistent effects on physiological or other related outcomes. Given its acceptability, low-cost and portability, it may be considered a practical adjunct for dyspnea management, although longer-term trials are needed. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Fan therapy can be used as an adjunct to disease-targeted treatments in the management of dyspnea, particularly in community nursing, low-cost and resource-limited settings. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS: Not applicable.
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