Research: LOPES-JÚNIOR and COLLEAGUES,  

Listed in Issue 276

Abstract

LOPES-JÚNIOR and COLLEAGUES,  Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo Brazil. rlae@eerp.usp.br  set out to synthesize the knowledge and to critically evaluate the evidences arising from randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in adult patients with cancer in palliative care.

Background

To synthesize the knowledge and to critically evaluate the evidences arising from randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in adult patients with cancer in palliative care.

Methodology

A systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The search for articles in the MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, CENTRAL Cochrane, and PsycINFO databases, as well as the manual search, selection of studies, data extraction, and methodological assessment using the Cochrane Bias Risk tool were performed independently by two reviewers.

Results

Eight hundred and fifteen (815) studies were identified, six of them being selected and analyzed, of which three used massage therapy, one study used a combination of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imaging, and another two studies used acupuncture. Most of the studies had an uncertain risk of bias (n=4; 67%).

Conclusion

While the evidence from the studies evaluating the use of massage therapy or the use of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imaging for the management of cancer pain in these patients demonstrated significant benefits, the other two studies that evaluated the use of acupuncture as a complementary therapy showed contradictory results, therefore, needing more research studies to elucidate such findings.

References

Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior, Gabriela Sylvestre Rosa, Raphael Manhães Pessanha, Sara Isabel Pimentel de Carvalho Schuab, Karolini Zuqui Nunes, Maria Helena Costa Amorim. Efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in palliative care: A systematic review  Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. ;28:e3377. doi: 10.1590/1518-8345.4213.3377. eCollection 2020. Sep 30 2020.

ICAN 2024 Skyscraper

Scientific and Medical Network 2

Cycle Around the World for Charity 2023

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro Charity 2023

top of the page