Using Integrative Therapies to Improve Patient-Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Living Evidence-Based...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Integrative Medicine
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Breast cancer presents a substantial disease and economic burden.
• Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are crucial for assessing treatment effectiveness.
• Survivors often experience challenges impacting their quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop living, evidence-based clinical practice recommendations.
• To guide the use of integrative therapies for breast cancer survivors.
• To improve patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Main Methods:

• Searched systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
• Conducted de novo systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
• Utilized the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Main Results:

• Issued 17 recommendations for various PROs.
• Strong recommendations for anxiety: muscle relaxation, yoga, ACT, CBT, psychological education, Tai Chi.
• Strong recommendations for depression: mindfulness, CBT, group psychotherapy, muscle relaxation, ACT, exercise (radiotherapy patients).
• Conditional recommendations for sleep quality.
• Strong recommendations for pain: exercise (postoperative patients).
• Strong recommendations for fatigue: mindfulness, group psychotherapy.
• Strong recommendations for quality of life: mindfulness, Baduanjin, exercise (anticancer treatment patients).

Conclusions:

• Provides recommendations to enhance PROs in breast cancer survivors.
• Aims to support healthcare providers in managing survivor care.
• Highlights the role of integrative therapies in survivorship.