Effects of Yoga on Cancer-Related Fatigue, Psychological Distress, and Quality of Life Among Patients With Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy and/or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Author: Xing Ma1, Si Ni Li, Dorothy Ngo Sheung Chan
Affiliation:
1 Author Affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
Conference/Journal: Cancer Nurs
Date published: 2023 Nov 27
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001293. , Word Count: 250
Background:
Yoga can be considered supportive therapy for patients with cancer to alleviate cancer-related symptoms. However, there has been no meta-analysis examining yoga's effects among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
Objective:
To synthesize the evidence regarding the effects of yoga on improving cancer-related fatigue, psychological distress, and quality of life among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
Methods:
Ten English databases and 2 Chinese databases were searched from inception to December 2022. Two independent reviewers screened studies and extracted the data. Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of yoga on cancer-related fatigue, psychological distress, and quality of life were included. Meta-analysis was conducted, and narrative synthesis was performed when meta-analysis was not applicable.
Results:
Fourteen studies from 16 articles were included. The results showed that yoga reduced cancer-related fatigue (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.12 to -0.38; P < .001), anxiety (SMD, -0.91; 95% CI, -1.68 to -0.14; P = .02), but not depression (SMD, -0.82; 95% CI, -1.67 to 0.04; P = .06). The effects of yoga on distress and quality of life were inconclusive.
Conclusions:
Yoga significantly helped reduce cancer-related fatigue and anxiety but did not reduce depression among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Further rigorous studies are needed to identify the optimal characteristics of yoga for these patients.
Implications for practice:
It is possible to recommend yoga to patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for managing cancer-related fatigue and anxiety after duly considering patients' physical conditions and ensuring appropriate instructions are given.
PMID: 38011074 DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001293
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