Acupoints Stimulation for Anxiety and Depression in Cancer Patients: A Quantitative Synthesis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Table 3
Summary of meta-analyses.
Study outcomes
Number of trials
Number of participants
Statistical method
Effect estimate
Test for overall effect
Heterogeneity ()
Overall assessment of acupoints stimulation: acupoints stimulation versus different comparisons (for anxiety)
Acupoints stimulation versus standard methods of treatment/care
3
567
NR
NR
NR
NR
NA
Acupoints stimulation versus sham acupoints stimulation
2
137
Mean difference (IV, random, 95% CI)
−0.65 [−2.84, 1.53]
0.59
0.56
>50%
Overall assessment of acupoints stimulation: acupoints stimulation versus different comparisons (for depression)
Acupoints stimulation versus standard methods of treatment/care
5
485
Mean difference (IV, random, 95% CI)
−1.08 [−1.97, −0.19]
2.39
0.02
>50%
Acupoints stimulation versus sham acupoints stimulation
2
137
Mean difference (IV, random, 95% CI)
−0.27 [−2.66, 2.12]
0.23
0.82
50%
Subgroup analysis: different types of acupoints stimulation versus standard methods of treatment/care (for anxiety)
Electroacupuncture
2
112
NR
NR
NR
NR
NA
Acupuncture
2
302
NR
NR
NR
NR
NA
Subgroup analysis: different types of acupoints stimulation versus standard methods of treatment/care (for depression)
Electroacupuncture
2
159
NR
NR
NR
NR
NA
Acupuncture
4
393
Mean difference (IV, random, 95% CI)
−2.55 [−3.61, −1.49]
4.72
<0.00001
>50%
Subgroup analysis: different types of acupoints stimulation versus sham comparison (for anxiety)
Acupuncture
2
152
NR
NR
NR
NR
NA
Acupressure
1
57
NR
NR
NR
NR
NA
Subgroup analysis: different types of acupoints stimulation versus sham comparison (for depression)
Acupuncture
2
152
NR
NR
NR
NR
NA
Acupressure
1
57
NR
NR
NR
NR
NA
IV: inverse variance, CI: confidence interval, NR: not reported because pooling was not conducted due to the insufficient number of studies, different models of data, or absence of data, NA: not applicable Sample was adopted from one study (as the sample of the other study was based on the study we adopted).
