Background and Context:
Integrative medicine is gaining public attention and claimed to be cost-effective and body-friendly.
Aim:To summarize the evidence level of the modalities of Integrative medicine used in supportive care for improving quality and span of life. To appraise the evidence level, and give suggestions to future research and practice.
Strategy/Tactics:A comprehensive search (the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Knowledge) was conducted to identify all systematic reviews or meta-analyses of different modalities of Integrative medicine suggested for supportive-care. And the evidence levels were evaluated using GRADE approach
These included Relaxation technique, meditation/yoga, prayers, deep breathing and Psychotherapy. Other modalities were massage, diet advice, tub bath, exercise, creative activities like music playing, painting, model making. Also acupuncture and lastly, Homeopathic plant tinctures as local application.
Programme/Policy Process:23 systematic reviews were included.
Based on available evidence, we could find that Relaxation technique, meditation/yoga, prayers, deep breathing and Psychotherapy, massage, diet advice, tub bath, exercise, creative activities like music playing, painting, model making, Acupuncture and certain Homeopathic plant tinctures as local application might have beneficial effects on improving quality of life. The results were inconsistent for Chinese herbal medicine plus cancer therapy, compound kushen injection, reflexology, lycopene, TENS, qigong, cupping, cannabis and Reiki.
However, the evidence levels for these interventions were low or moderate due to high risk of bias and/or small sample size of primary studies.
Outcomes/What was learned:Integrative medicine in supportive care may be beneficial to improve quality/span of life but the evidence levels were found to be low or moderate. Future large and rigor randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm the benefits of use of integrative medicine in supportive care