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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-07-2009 | Review Article

Acupuncture for treating hot flushes in men with prostate cancer: a systematic review

Authors: Myeong Soo Lee, Kun-Hyung Kim, Byung-Cheul Shin, Sun-Mi Choi, Edzard Ernst

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 7/2009

Abstract

Goals of work

The goal of the study was to assess the effects of acupuncture as a treatment for hot flushes in prostate cancer (PC) patients.

Materials and methods

The literature was searched using 14 databases with dates ranging from their inceptions to December 2008 and without language restrictions. All clinical studies of any type of acupuncture in PC patients were included. Their main outcome measures had to be vasomotor symptoms. Their methodological quality was assessed using the modified Jadad score.

Results

Six studies met all the inclusion criteria. One randomised clinical trial compared the effects of manual acupuncture with acupuncture plus electro-acupuncture. The other five studies were uncontrolled observational studies and therefore had limitations.

Conclusion

The evidence is not convincing to suggest acupuncture is an effective treatment for hot flush in patients with PC. Further research is required to investigate whether acupuncture has hot-flush-specific effects.

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Title: Acupuncture for treating hot flushes in men with prostate cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Myeong Soo Lee
Kun-Hyung Kim
Byung-Cheul Shin
Sun-Mi Choi
Edzard Ernst
Publication date: 01-07-2009
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 7/2009
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0589-3

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Abstract

Goals of work

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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