Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42203238›Full record

SynthesisEuropean respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society2026

Nonpharmacological dyspnoea-relief strategies in lung cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Guoxiang Hu, Binu Koirala, Lufei Young, Cailing Liang, Wei Zhou, Qi Zhang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewNetwork Meta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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.

Guoxiang HuSun Yat Sen University, School of Nursing, Guangzhou, China.
Binu KoiralaJohns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Lufei YoungUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte, College of Health and Human Services, School of Nursing, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Cailing LiangSun Yat Sen University, School of Nursing, Guangzhou, China.
Wei ZhouSun Yat Sen University, School of Nursing, Guangzhou, China.
Qi ZhangSun Yat Sen University, School of Nursing, Guangzhou, China zhangq569@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDyspnoea is a common and distressing symptom in lung cancer patients. While various dyspnoea-relief strategies show promise, their comparative effectiveness remains unclear.

methodsWe conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials on nonpharmacological dyspnoea-relief strategies in lung cancer patients, using studies published until 12 June 2025 from the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. The primary outcome was dyspnoea score post-intervention.

results4138 participants from 46 randomised controlled trials were included in the analysis. Among 10 nonpharmacological dyspnoea-relief strategies in lung cancer patients, acupressure (surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) 98.7%, Hedges' g -1.96, 95% CI -2.92 to -0.99) demonstrated the highest efficacy, followed by fan (SUCRA 83.7%, Hedges' g -1.11, 95% CI -1.72 to -0.50), and multicomponent interventions (SUCRA 80.7%, Hedges' g -1.01, 95% CI -1.49 to -0.52). In post-operative lung cancer patients, multicomponent interventions (SUCRA 97.4%, Hedges' g -1.55, 95% CI -2.16 to -0.94) were the most effective, followed by cognitive behavioural therapy (SUCRA 74.8%, Hedges' g -0.90, 95% CI -1.75 to -0.05). For patients with pre-existing dyspnoea, acupressure (SUCRA 90.9%, Hedges' g -1.72, 95% CI -3.01 to -0.42) and fan therapy (SUCRA 77.3%, Hedges' g -1.18, 95% CI -2.10 to -0.27) were the top interventions.

conclusionsAcupressure is the primary strategy for alleviating dyspnoea in lung cancer patients, including those with pre-existing dyspnoea, followed by fan therapy, while multicomponent interventions are recommended for post-operative patients.

Indexed as

AcupressureDyspneaLung NeoplasmsHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID42203238
PMCPMC13213464

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.