Effect of complementary and alternative medicine interventions on cancer related pain among breast cancer patients: A systematic review.

Author: Behzadmehr R1, Dastyar N2, Moghadam MP3, Abavisani M4, Moradi M5
Affiliation:
1Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
2Department of Midwifery, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran.
3Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
4MSc of Medical Surgical Nursing, Department of Nursing, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
5Clinical Pharmacy Department, School of Pharmacy, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran. Electronic address: mmandana310@gmail.com.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Med.
Date published: 2020 Mar
Other: Volume ID: 49 , Pages: 102318 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102318. Epub 2020 Jan 17. , Word Count: 161


OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CAM interventions for cancer-related pain in breast cancer patients.

METHODS: Databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE) were searched from January 1, 2000, up to April 31, 2019, using the keywords: Complementary and alternative medicine therapies and cancer related pain. Standard tools were used to evaluate the quality of the studies included.

RESULTS: Of the 3742 articles found, 46 articles comprising 3685 participants entered the final phase. Our results indicate that interventions including acupuncture/acupressure, tai chi/qi gong, hypnosis, meditation, music therapy, yoga, massage, reflexology, and Reiki improve cancer-related pain in breast cancer patients. However, aromatherapy had no effect on the same.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the positive effect of various CAM interventions in reducing cancer-related pain, necessary precautions should be adopted to use them alongside other treatments to control cancer pain in the clinical setting.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS: Breast neoplasm; Cancer related pain; Complementary and alternative medicine; Systematic review

PMID: 32147038 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102318

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