The safety and efficacy of using moxibustion and or acupuncture for cancer-related insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Carol Chunfeng Wang; Ellen Yichun Han; Mark Jenkins; Xuepei Hong; Shuqin Pang; Lisa Whitehead; Deborah L Kirk; Anne Williams

doi:10.1177/26323524211070569

The safety and efficacy of using moxibustion and or acupuncture for cancer-related insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Palliat Care Soc Pract. 2022 Jan 10:16:26323524211070569. doi: 10.1177/26323524211070569. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Carol Chunfeng Wang¹, Ellen Yichun Han², Mark Jenkins³, Xuepei Hong⁴, Shuqin Pang⁴, Lisa Whitehead⁵, Deborah L Kirk⁵, Anne Williams⁶

Affiliations

¹ Carol Chunfeng Wang Researcher and Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA 6027, Australia.
² School of Pharmacy, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
³ Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia.
⁴ School of Nursing, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
⁵ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia.
⁶ Discipline of Nursing, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to synthesise the best available evidence on the safety and efficacy of using moxibustion and/or acupuncture to manage cancer-related insomnia (CRI).

Methods: The PRISMA framework guided the review. Nine databases were searched from its inception to July 2020, published in English or Chinese. Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of moxibustion and or acupuncture for the treatment of CRI were selected for inclusion. Methodological quality was assessed using the method suggested by the Cochrane collaboration. The Cochrane Review Manager was used to conduct a meta-analysis.

Results: Fourteen RCTs met the eligibility criteria. Twelve RCTs used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score as continuous data and a meta-analysis showed positive effects of moxibustion and or acupuncture (n = 997, mean difference (MD) = -1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -2.75 to -0.94, p < 0.01). Five RCTs using continuous data and a meta-analysis in these studies also showed significant difference between two groups (n = 358, risk ratio (RR) = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.26-0.80, I ² = 39%).

Conclusion: The meta-analyses demonstrated that moxibustion and or acupuncture showed a positive effect in managing CRI. Such modalities could be considered an add-on option in the current CRI management regimen.

Keywords: acupuncture; cancer; insomnia; literature review; meta-analysis; moxibustion.

Publication types

Review