Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2025
Acupoint Application Combined with Acupressure as an Adjunctive Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Published on: June 21, 2024
Acupuncture-related interventions improve chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and network
Mei-Ling Yeh1, Ru-Wen Liao2, Pin-Hsuan Yeh1
1Department of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, No. 365, Minte Rd., Peitou Dist., Taipei City, 11219, Taiwan.
Background:
The previous effects of acupuncture-related interventions in improving chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms and quality of life (QoL) remain unclear in terms of pairwise comparisons.
Aims:
This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to determine the hierarchical effects of acupuncture-related interventions on symptoms, pain, and QoL associated with CIPN in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Methods:
Nine electronic databases were searched, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Medline Ovid, Airiti Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Journal full-text database (CJFD), and Wanfang. Medical subject heading terms and text words were used to search for eligible randomized controlled trials published from database inception to May 2023.
Results:
A total of 33 studies involving 2,027 participants were included. Pairwise meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture-related interventions were superior to usual care, medication, or dietary supplements in improving CIPN symptoms, CIPN pain, and QoL. Furthermore, network meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture plus electrical stimulation (acupuncture-E) had the greatest overall effect among the various interventions. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) revealed that acupuncture-E ranked the highest in improving CINP symptoms. Acupuncture alone was most effective in reducing CIPN pain, and acupuncture plus moxibustion (acupuncture-M) ranked highest in enhancing QoL.
Conclusion:
This finding suggests that acupuncture-related interventions can provide patients with benefits in improving CIPN symptoms, pain, and QoL. In particular, acupuncture-E could be the most effective approach in which the provided evidence offers diverse options for cancer patients and healthcare professionals.
Implication For The Profession And/Or Patient Care:
These findings provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of acupuncture-related interventions for managing symptoms, pain, and QoL associated with CIPN in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Among the various interventions studied, overall, acupuncture-E had the most significant impact and was effective for a minimum duration of 3 weeks. On the other hand, transcutaneous electrical acupoint/nerve stimulation (TEAS) was identified as a noninvasive and feasible alternative for patients who had concerns about needles or the risk of bleeding. It is recommended that TEAS interventions should be carried out for a longer period, preferably lasting 4 weeks, to achieve optimal outcomes.
Trial Registration:
The study protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.
Registration Number:
CRD42022319871.
