Abstract
Objective: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.Method: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.
Highlights
The latest report on the global cancer burden in the world, according to the GLOBOCAN 2018 estimates, has estimated about 18.1 million new cases of cancer and 9.6 million deaths due to malignant neoplasms in 2018(1)
Primary studies were included whose design was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted with adult patients (≥ 19 years old), of both genders, diagnosed with any type of malignancy in palliative care; studies covering the efficacy of some complementary therapy classified by The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (National Institutes of Health, USA), which categorizes them mainly as: use of natural products; body and mind practices; and body-based manipulation practices[17] and whose primary outcome was cancer pain
The exclusion by title and abstract resulted in the selection of 17 studies that were read in full-text
Summary
The latest report on the global cancer burden in the world, according to the GLOBOCAN 2018 estimates, has estimated about 18.1 million new cases of cancer and 9.6 million deaths due to malignant neoplasms in 2018(1). Cancer is a contemporary global public health problem, being the second leading cause of mortality in several countries[2]. Estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that, in 2030, cancer will reach approximately 27 million incident cases worldwide, 17 million deaths, and 75 million people with annual diagnosis[3]. The WHO Analgesic Scale has been widely used[6,7], approximately 40% to 50% of the cancer pain cases have inadequaterelief due to their multi-factorial nature[8]. There is still a shortage of effective pain management schemes for many cancer patients, especially those in palliative care[9,10]. A combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment modalities for cancer pain should be the standard care, due to the complexity of this symptom[10,11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
