Comparative efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine-based non-pharmacological therapies for managing cancer-related fatigue in lung cancer patients: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Yu Song, Xinyu Zhou, Yao Luo et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-based non-pharmacological therapies for managing cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in lung cancer patients. The analysis included 32 randomized controlled trials and found that moxibustion (SMD = -2.56) and auricular acupressure (SMD = -1.82) significantly improved CRF compared to usual care, with moxibustion also outperforming qigong (SMD = -2.12).
Key findings
- Moxibustion significantly improved CRF with an SMD of -2.56 compared to usual care.
- Auricular acupressure showed a significant effect on CRF with an SMD of -1.82.
- Moxibustion was more effective than qigong, with an SMD of -2.12.
Why it matters
Cancer-related fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in lung cancer patients, impacting their quality of life. Understanding effective non-pharmacological therapies can enhance patient care and management strategies.
What to keep in mind
The included studies exhibited considerable risk of bias, indicating a need for more rigorous clinical trials.