Mind and body practices for fatigue reduction in patients with cancer and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Nathan Duong, Hailey Davis, Paula D Robinson, Sapna Oberoi, Danielle Cataudella, S Nicole Culos-Reed, Faith Gibson, Miriam Götte, Pamela Hinds, Sanne L Nijhof, Deborah Tomlinson, Patrick van der Torre, Elena Ladas, Sandra Cabral, Lee L. Dupuis, Lillian Sung

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine whether non-physical activity mind and body practices reduce the severity of fatigue in patients with cancer or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients compared to control interventions.

METHODS: We included randomized trials which compared non-physical activity mind and body practices compared with control interventions for the management of fatigue in cancer and HSCT patients.

RESULTS: Among 55 trials (4975 patients), interventions were acupuncture or acupressure (n=12), mindfulness (n=11), relaxation techniques (n=10), massage (n=6), energy therapy (n=5), energizing yogic breathing (n=3) and others (n=8). When combined, all interventions significantly reduced fatigue severity compared to all controls (standardized mean difference -0.51, 95% confidence interval -0.73 to -0.29). More specifically, mindfulness and relaxation significantly reduced fatigue severity.

CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness and relaxation were effective at reducing fatigue severity in patients with cancer and HSCT recipients. Future studies should evaluate how to translate these findings into clinical practice across different patient groups.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)210-216
Number of pages7
JournalCritical Reviews in Oncology Hematology
Volume120
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2017

Keywords

  • Acupressure
  • Acupuncture therapy
  • Fatigue
  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplant
  • Massage
  • Mindfulness
  • Randomized control trials
  • Relaxation therapy

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