<p>Efficacy of complementary and integrative medicine on health-related quality of life in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis</p>

Abstract

Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) has been used for improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with cancer. The objective of this review is to evaluate the effects of CIMs on the HRQOL of cancer patients. We identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving patients with cancer at any stage by retrieving electronic databases from the inception to February 14, 2018 (Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42018091609). The main outcomes were HRQOL scores and related domains such as physical well-being scores. The standardized mean difference was used for the analysis and heterogeneity was assessed with the I 2 statistic. A Bayesian framework was used to estimate the ranking order of efficacy in HRQOL change. Finally, 34 RCTs with 3,010 patients were included. As a whole, the results showed clearly superior efficacy of CIM in improving HRQOL. For different domains of HRQOL, different CIM interventions may play different roles. The ranking order of efficacy in change HRQOL was qigong plus mindfulness, Chinese herbal medicine, multimodal complementary medicine, qigong, nutritional supplement, mindfulness, acupuncture, yoga, and massage, and it was different among different domains. There was no evidence of publication bias. In conclusion, CIM may improve the HRQOL of cancer patients. More studies, especially focusing on male cancer patients, are needed to increase the confidence level of our findings.

Tai Chi, Qigong and the Treatment of Cancer

“…Numerous studies have found that tai chi and qigong can have positive effects on the quality of life for a wide range of cancer patients [143][144][145][146][147][148][149][150][151][152][153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160][161][162].…”

Biologically-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use in Cancer Patients: The Good, the Bad, the Misunderstood

“…However, there are some studies that suggest efficacy may be increased with supplement usage. Increased survival rates for colon, gastric, and lung cancer were demonstrated with use of Pan-Asian medicine (PAM) (66-68) CAM, including supplement use, was also associated with improved quality of life (46,69). Emotional distress, depression, insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, and other symptoms as a result of disease or treatment can be addressed by CAM methods (see Table 1).…”

Integrative Medicine Through Islamic Perspective in Respecting Pandemic Covid-19

“…So that, automatically, this event will encourage the advancement of science in the health sector for experts to carry out much integrated medical research to eradicate this pandemic coronavirus outbreak. 18,19 In the book of Fiqh, the thaharah chapter also explains the guidelines for purification in Islam. One of them is by doing ablution.…”