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Acupoint Application as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Fatigue Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Comparative Effectiveness of Acupoint Stimulation Therapies for Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Network Meta-Analysis
Hui-Chuan Chou1, Sriyani Padmalatha Konara Mudiyanselage2,3, Chia-Chun Tang4
1Department of Cancer Center, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, ROC.
Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing
|January 30, 2026
Summary
Acupoint stimulation therapies like acupressure and acupuncture effectively reduce cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Self-administered acupressure is a practical, low-cost option for managing CRF in cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Integrative oncology
- Complementary and alternative medicine
- Evidence-based practice
Background:
- Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) significantly impacts patient quality of life.
- Nonpharmacological interventions for CRF are gaining attention.
- Limited comparative data exists for acupoint stimulation therapies' efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate and rank the effectiveness of various acupoint stimulation therapies for alleviating CRF.
- To provide evidence for integrating these therapies into cancer care.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and network meta-analysis of 28 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 2370 participants.
- Interventions included acupuncture, acupressure, oil acupressure, moxibustion, and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS).
- Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking Curve (SUCRA) was used for therapy ranking.
Main Results:
- Oil acupressure (SUCRA: 73.6%), relaxing acupressure (73.4%), and acupuncture (72.7%) demonstrated the highest effectiveness in reducing CRF.
- Both professional and self-administered therapies were effective.
- Consistent efficacy was observed across various cancer types and treatment stages.
Conclusions:
- Acupoint stimulation therapies, particularly acupressure and acupuncture, are effective in reducing CRF.
- Self-administered acupressure presents a feasible and cost-effective option, especially in resource-limited settings.
- Further research with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up is recommended for clinical implementation.
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