Effectiveness of complementary therapies for the management of symptom clusters in palliative care in pediatric oncology: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of complementary therapies in the management of symptom clusters in children and adolescents with cancer undergoing palliative care. METHOD: Systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, resorting to the databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, Central Cochrane, and PsycINFO. The identification, selection, inclusion, extraction, and methodological assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: Five quasi-experiments met the eligibility criteria. The heterogeneous characteristics of the studies made meta-analysis impossible. Two studies used therapeutic massage, one used Reiki, one used boswellic acid, and one used Cannabis sativa; three of them (therapeutic massage and Reiki) presented statistically significant results for the management of the cluster pain-anxiety-worry-dyspnea. Most studies presented a moderate risk of bias as per ROBINS-I tool. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic massage and Reiki may be effective for the symptom clusters management, especially the pain-anxiety-worry-dyspnea cluster in children and adolescents undergoing palliative care.

Effectiveness of complementary therapies for the management of symptom clusters in palliative care in pediatric oncology: a systematic review / Efectividad de las terapias complementarias para el manejo de los grupos de síntomas en los cuidados paliativos en oncopediatría: revisión sistemática / Efetividade de terapias complementares para o manejo de clusters de sintomas em cuidados paliativos em oncopediatria: revisão sistemática

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of complementary therapies in the management of symptom clusters in children and adolescents with cancer undergoing palliative care. Method: Systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, resorting to the databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, Central Cochrane, and PsycINFO. The identification, selection, inclusion, extraction, and methodological assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. Results: Five quasi-experiments met the eligibility criteria. The heterogeneous characteristics of the studies made meta-analysis impossible. Two studies used therapeutic massage, one used Reiki, one used boswellic acid, and one used Cannabis sativa; three of them (therapeutic massage and Reiki) presented statistically significant results for the management of the cluster pain-anxiety-worry-dyspnea. Most studies presented a moderate risk of bias as per ROBINS-I tool. Conclusion: Therapeutic massage and Reiki may be effective for the symptom clusters management, especially the pain-anxiety-worry-dyspnea cluster in children and adolescents undergoing palliative care.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de las terapias complementarias para el manejo de los grupos de síntomas en niños y adolescentes con cáncer en cuidados paliativos. Método: Revisión sistemática guiada por Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, con acceso a las bases de datos MEDLINE, Web of Science, Central Cochrane y PsycINFO. La identificación, selección, inclusión, extracción y evaluación metodológica fueron realizadas por dos revisores de forma independiente. Resultados: Cinco cuasi-experimentos cumplían los criterios de elegibilidad. Las características heterogéneas de los estudios impidieron el metanálisis. Dos estudios utilizaron la terapia de masaje; uno, el Reiki; uno, el ácido boswélico; y uno, la Cannabis sativa; tres de ellos (los que utilizaron la terapia de masaje y el Reiki) mostraron resultados estadísticamente significativos para el tratamiento del grupo dolor-ansiedad-preocupación-disnea. La mayoría de los estudios mostraron un riesgo de sesgo moderado según la herramienta ROBINS-I. Conclusión: La terapia de masaje y el Reiki pueden ser terapias efectivas para el manejo de los grupos de síntomas, especialmente el grupo dolor-ansiedad-preocupación-disnea en niños y adolescentes con cáncer en cuidados paliativos.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade de terapias complementares no manejo dos clusters de sintomas em crianças e adolescentes com câncer em cuidados paliativos. Método: Revisão sistemática guiada pelo Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, com acesso às bases de dados MEDLINE, Web of Science, Central Cochrane e PsycINFO. A identificação, seleção, inclusão, extração e avaliação metodológica foram realizadas por dois revisores independentemente. Resultados: Atenderam aos critérios de elegibilidade cinco quase-experimentos. As características heterogêneas dos estudos impossibilitaram a meta-análise. Dois estudos utilizaram a massagem terapêutica; um, o Reiki; um, ácido boswélico; e um, a Cannabis sativa, sendo que três deles (que usaram massagem terapêutica e Reiki) apresentaram resultados estatisticamente significantes para o manejo do cluster dor-ansiedade-preocupação-dispneia. A maioria dos estudos apresentou risco-de-viés moderado pela ferramenta ROBINS-I. Conclusão: A massagem terapêutica e o Reiki podem ser terapias efetivas para o manejo de clusters de sintomas, especialmente o cluster dor-ansiedade-preocupação-dispneia em crianças e adolescentes com câncer em cuidados paliativos.

Efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in palliative care: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: to synthesize the knowledge and to critically evaluate the evidences arising from randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in adult patients with cancer in palliative care. METHOD: a systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The search for articles in the MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, CENTRAL Cochrane, and PsycINFO databases, as well as the manual search, selection of studies, data extraction, and methodological assessment using the Cochrane Bias Risk tool were performed independently by two reviewers. RESULTS: eight hundred and fifteen (815) studies were identified, six of them being selected and analyzed, of which three used massage therapy, one study used a combination of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imaging, and another two studies used acupuncture. Most of the studies had an uncertain risk of bias (n=4; 67%). CONCLUSION: while the evidence from the studies evaluating the use of massage therapy or the use of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imaging for the management of cancer pain in these patients demonstrated significant benefits, the other two studies that evaluated the use of acupuncture as a complementary therapy showed contradictory results, therefore, needing more research studies to elucidate such findings.

Efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in palliative care: A systematic review / Eficácia das terapias complementares no manejo da dor oncológica em cuidados paliativos: revisão sistemática / Eficacia de las terapias complementarias en el manejo del dolor oncológico en los cuidados paliativos: revisión sistemática

Objective: to synthesize the knowledge and to critically evaluate the evidences arising from randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in adult patients with cancer in palliative care. Method: a systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The search for articles in the MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, CENTRAL Cochrane, and PsycINFO databases, as well as the manual search, selection of studies, data extraction, and methodological assessment using the Cochrane Bias Risk tool were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: eight hundred and fifteen (815) studies were identified, six of them being selected and analyzed, of which three used massage therapy, one study used a combination of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imaging, and another two studies used acupuncture. Most of the studies had an uncertain risk of bias (n=4; 67%). Conclusion: while the evidence from the studies evaluating the use of massage therapy or the use of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imaging for the management of cancer pain in these patients demonstrated significant benefits, the other two studies that evaluated the use of acupuncture as a complementary therapy showed contradictory results, therefore, needing more research studies to elucidate such findings.

Objetivo: sintetizar o conhecimento e avaliar criticamente as evidências provenientes de ensaios clínicos controlados randomizados sobre a eficácia das terapias complementares no manejo da dor oncológica em pacientes adultos com câncer em cuidados paliativos. Método: revisão sistemática guiada pelo Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. A busca dos artigos nas bases de dados MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, CENTRAL Cochrane e PsycINFO, bem como a busca manual, seleção dos estudos, extração dos dados e avaliação metodológica pela ferramenta do Risco de Viés da Cochrane foram realizadas por dois revisores de forma independente. Resultados: foram identificados 815 estudos, sendo seis selecionados e analisados, dos quais três utilizaram a massagem terapêutica, um estudo usou uma combinação de relaxamento muscular progressivo e imagem guiada, e outros dois estudos a acupuntura. A maioria dos estudos apresentou risco de viés incerto (n=4; 67%). Conclusão: enquanto as evidências dos estudos que avaliaram o uso da massagem terapêutica ou o uso de relaxamento muscular progressivo e imagem guiada para manejo da dor oncológica nesses pacientes mostraram benefícios significativos, os outros dois estudos que avaliaram o uso da acupuntura como terapia complementar exibiram resultados divergentes, necessitando, portanto, de mais pesquisas para elucidar tais achados.

Objetivo: sintetizar conocimiento y realizar el análisis crítico de las evidencias procedentes de ensayos clínicos controlados aleatorios sobre la eficacia de las terapias complementarias en el manejo del dolor oncológico en pacientes adultos con cáncer en cuidados paliativos. Método: revisión sistemática guiada por el Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. La búsqueda de artículos en las bases de datos MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, CENTRAL Cochrane y PsycINFO, así como la búsqueda manual, selección de estudios, extracción de datos y evaluación metodológica con la utilización de la herramienta Riesgo de Sesgo de Cochrane se realizaron por dos revisores de forma independiente. Resultados: se identificaron 815 estudios, de los cuales, seis fueron seleccionados y analizados, siendo que tres utilizaron masaje terapéutico, un estudio utilizó una combinación de relajación muscular progresiva e imagen guiada, y otros dos estudios la acupuntura. La mayor parte de los estudios presentaron riesgo de sesgo incierto (n=4; 67%) Conclusión: mientras las evidencias de los estudios que evalúan el uso de la del masaje terapéutico o el uso de la relajación muscular progresiva y las imágenes guiadas para el manejo del dolor oncológico en estos pacientes demostraron beneficios significativos, los otros dos estudios que evaluaron el uso de la acupuntura como terapia complementaria mostraron resultados divergentes, razón por la cual se requiere de más investigación para dilucidar tales hallazgos.