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Somatic Acupoint Stimulation for Cancer-Related Sleep Disturbance: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled
Xian-Liang Liu1, Hui Lin Cheng2, Simon Moss3
1Department of Nursing, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Shenzhen Union Hospital, 89 Tao Yuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China.
Aim:
The aim of this systematic review was to analyze and synthesize available evidence for the effects of somatic acupoint stimulation (SAS) on cancer-related sleep disturbance in adults with cancer.
Methods:
Nine databases and four clinical trial registries were searched from their inception to July 2019 to identify potential articles and registered trials. Two authors independently extracted data and appraised the methodological quality of the included studies. The included studies could not be subjected to meta-analysis due to the significant variations in SAS intervention protocols and outcome measurement instruments. This systematic review therefore reported the results of the included trials narratively.
Results:
Seven studies were identified, which involved 906 cancer patients. SAS protocols varied across trials without an optimal evidence-based standard intervention protocol to manage cancer-related sleep disturbance. Sanyinjiao (SP6) was the most commonly selected acupoint. Manual acupuncture was typically 15-30 min in duration and was conducted once a day or once a week for a period of 1-5 weeks, whereas self-administered acupressure was typically 1-3 min in duration per point and was conducted once a day, such as during night time before going to bed, for a period of 1-5 months. The results indicated that SAS could potentially relieve cancer-related sleep disturbance and improve quality of life. Mild adverse effects were reported in three of the included studies, but none of them performed a causality analysis to clarify the association between the reported adverse events and the intervention.
Conclusions:
This systematic review showed that SAS is a useful approach to relieving cancer-related sleep disturbance. However, research evidence on SAS for managing cancer-related sleep disturbance has not been fully conclusive due to the limited number of existing clinical studies with relatively small sample size and suboptimal methodological quality. Clinical trials with large sample size and robust methodology are warranted in future research.
Insights
Somatic acupoint stimulation (SAS) may help adults with cancer manage sleep disturbances and improve quality of life. More rigorous research is needed to confirm these findings due to limited study quality and sample sizes.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Oncology
- Sleep Medicine
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Background:
- Cancer patients frequently experience sleep disturbances, significantly impacting their quality of life.
- Somatic acupoint stimulation (SAS) is an emerging complementary therapy explored for managing cancer-related symptoms.
- Evidence synthesis is crucial to evaluate the efficacy of SAS for sleep issues in cancer survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize existing evidence on the effects of somatic acupoint stimulation (SAS) for cancer-related sleep disturbance in adults with cancer.
- To analyze the methodologies and outcomes of studies investigating SAS interventions for sleep quality in cancer patients.
- To identify gaps in the current research and provide recommendations for future studies.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive search of nine databases and four clinical trial registries was conducted up to July 2019.
- Data extraction and quality appraisal were performed independently by two authors.
- Due to heterogeneity in interventions and outcome measures, a narrative synthesis approach was adopted instead of meta-analysis.
Main Results:
- Seven studies involving 906 cancer patients were included in the review.
- Somatic acupoint stimulation (SAS) demonstrated potential benefits in alleviating cancer-related sleep disturbances and enhancing quality of life.
- Commonly used acupoints included Sanyinjiao (SP6), with interventions varying in duration and frequency; mild adverse effects were reported but causality was not established.
Conclusions:
- Somatic acupoint stimulation (SAS) appears to be a beneficial approach for managing sleep disturbances in cancer patients.
- The current evidence base is limited by a small number of studies with suboptimal methodological quality and sample sizes.
- Future research should prioritize large-scale, robustly designed clinical trials to definitively establish the efficacy and safety of SAS for cancer-related sleep disturbance.
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