Skip to content
2000
Volume 21, Issue 6
  • ISSN: 1573-4048
  • E-ISSN: 1875-6581
file format pdf download PDF
file format text download EPUB
side by side viewer icon HTML

Abstract

Background

Breast cancer remains a prevalent malignancy among women globally. Survivors often experience diminished quality of life, pain, and sleep disturbances after treatment and suffer feelings of isolation. Non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine (NP-TCM) interventions have been increasingly applied in clinical practice, yet their efficacy requires further clarification.

Objective

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of NP-TCM interventions (. Qigong, Tai Chi, Baduanjin) on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in breast cancer patients.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials published between 1999 and 2024 were retrieved from various databases. Studies comparing NP-TCM and control groups in quality of life and other outcomes were included. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. 14 RCTs with 688 patients were included.

Results

NP-TCM interventions significantly improved overall quality of life (SMD=0.13, 95%CI 0.24~0.51, <0.001). Specifically, Baduanjin demonstrated substantial benefits (SMD=0.82, <0.001). NP-TCM also enhanced sleep (SMD=1.16, =0.04) and alleviated anxiety (SMD=-0.46, <0.05).

Conclusion

NP-TCM interventions effectively improved the HRQOL and certain symptoms for breast cancer patients, providing practical adjunctive therapies. However, study qualities require optimization.

© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers.
This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048341106241202113327
2025-11-01
2025-10-30

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048341106241202113327
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/cwhr/21/6/CWHR-21-6-10.html?itemId=/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048341106241202113327&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. El HaidariR. AbbasL.A. NerichV. AnotaA. Factors associated with health-related quality of life in women with breast cancer in the middle east: A systematic review.Cancers202012369610.3390/cancers12030696 32187972
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Breast cancer - World Health Organization (WHO).2022Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ breast-cancer
  3. World Health Organization. Global cancer observatory.2024Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/
    [Google Scholar]
  4. HessariM.P. MontazeriA. Health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients: Review of reviews from 2008 to 2018.Health Qual. Life Outcomes202018133810.1186/s12955‑020‑01591‑x 33046106
     [Google Scholar]
  5. ArnejaJ. BrooksJ.D. The impact of chronic comorbidities at the time of breast cancer diagnosis on quality of life, and emotional health following treatment in Canada.PLoS One2021168e025653610.1371/journal.pone.0256536 34437611
     [Google Scholar]
  6. ChenJ. OuL. HollisS.J. A systematic review of the impact of routine collection of patient reported outcome measures on patients, providers and health organisations in an oncologic setting.BMC Health Serv. Res.201313121110.1186/1472‑6963‑13‑211 23758898
     [Google Scholar]
  7. BurguinA. DiorioC. DurocherF. Breast cancer treatments: Updates and new challenges.J. Pers. Med.202111880810.3390/jpm11080808 34442452
     [Google Scholar]
  8. AitkenL-A. HossanS.Z. The psychological distress and quality of life of breast cancer survivors in Sydney, Australia.Health care202210102017
     [Google Scholar]
  9. LakeB. DameryS. JollyK. Effectiveness of weight loss interventions in breast cancer survivors: A systematic review of reviews.BMJ Open20221210e06228810.1136/bmjopen‑2022‑062288 36207046
     [Google Scholar]
  10. ChanC.W.H. TaiD. KwongS. ChowK.M. ChanD.N.S. LawB.M.H. The effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on symptom management and quality of life among breast cancer survivors undergoing adjuvant endocrine therapy: A systematic review.Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2020178295010.3390/ijerph17082950 32344759
     [Google Scholar]
  11. WangT. XuC. PanK. XiongH. Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine: A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Complement. Altern. Med.201717116310.1186/s12906‑017‑1647‑x 28335756
     [Google Scholar]
  12. HungS.H. HwangC.Y. ChangC.Y. Is the Qi experience related to the flow experience? Practicing qigong in urban green spaces.PLoS One2021161e024018010.1371/journal.pone.0240180 33395692
     [Google Scholar]
  13. MendoB. GonçalvesM. LopesL. MatosL.C. MachadoJ. Can Yoga, Qigong, and Tai Chi breathing work support the psycho-immune homeostasis during and after the COVID-19 pandemic? A narrative review.Health care202210101934
     [Google Scholar]
  14. KongL. RenJ. FangS. HeT. ZhouX. FangM. Effects of traditional Chinese mind-body exercise-Baduanjin for type 2 diabetes on psychological well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Front. Public Health20221092341110.3389/fpubh.2022.923411 35968439
     [Google Scholar]
  15. LiK. KozłowskaW.T. LipowskiM. LiJ. KrokoszD. SuY. YuH. FanH. The effect of the Baduanjin exercise on COVID-19-related anxiety, psychological well-being and lower back pain of college students during the pandemic.BMC Sports Sci. Med. Rehabil.202214110210.1186/s13102‑022‑00493‑3 35676708
     [Google Scholar]
  16. CaiR. HuL. LiZ. LiM. ChengH. WuZ. Effects of warming moxibustion on scores of fatigue and life quality in patients with subhealth fatigue status.World J. Acupunct. Moxibustion2014241101410.1016/S1003‑5257(14)60035‑0
     [Google Scholar]
  17. JunY. JunX. ShaozhongX.U. HongwuX. JieX. Effect and cerebral mechanism of moxibustion at heat-sensitized Yaoyangguan (GV3) in patients with lumbar disc herniation and myofascial pain syndrome by resting-state functionality magnetic resonance imaging: Protocol for an observational study.J. Tradit. Chin. Med.2023431175180 36640010
     [Google Scholar]
  18. WHO expert meeting on evaluation of traditional chinese medicine in the treatment of COVID-19.2022Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-expert-meeting-on-evaluation-of-traditional-chinese-medicine-in-the-treatment-of-covid-19
    [Google Scholar]
  19. MatosL.C. MachadoJ.P. MonteiroF.J. GretenH.J. Understanding traditional chinese medicine therapeutics: An overview of the basics and clinical applications.Health care20219325710.3390/healthcare9030257 33804485
     [Google Scholar]
  20. ZhaoZ. LiY. ZhouL. ZhouX. XieB. ZhangW. SunJ. Prevention and treatment of COVID-19 using Traditional Chinese Medicine: A review.Phytomedicine20218515330810.1016/j.phymed.2020.153308 32843234
     [Google Scholar]
  21. LiuM. GaoY. YuanY. YangK. ShiS. ZhangJ. TianJ. Efficacy and safety of integrated traditional chinese and western medicine for corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A systematic review and meta-analysis.Pharmacol. Res.202015810489610.1016/j.phrs.2020.104896 32438037
     [Google Scholar]
  22. DaiZ. LiaoX. WielandL.S. HuJ. WangY. KimT.H. LiuJ. ZhanS. RobinsonN. Cochrane systematic reviews on traditional Chinese medicine: What matters–the quantity or quality of evidence?Phytomedicine20229815392110.1016/j.phymed.2021.153921 35104758
     [Google Scholar]
  23. WangL.C. ChangY.Y. LeeI.C. KuoH.C. TsaiM.Y. Systematic review and meta-analysis of Chinese herbal medicine as adjuvant treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.Complement. Ther. Med.20205210247210.1016/j.ctim.2020.102472 32951722
     [Google Scholar]
  24. YangM. ZhuS. ShenC. ZhaiR. LiD. FangM. XuJ. GanY. YangL. RenZ. ZhengR. RobinsonN. LiuJ. Clinical application of Chinese herbal injection for cancer care: Evidence-mapping of the systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials.Front. Pharmacol.20211266636810.3389/fphar.2021.666368 34025425
     [Google Scholar]
  25. YangM. ShenC. ZhuS. ZhangY. JiangH. BaoY. YangG. LiuJ. Chinese patent medicine aidi injection for cancer care: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.J. Ethnopharm.2022282114656
     [Google Scholar]
  26. PageM.J. McKenzieJ.E. BossuytP.M. BoutronI. HoffmannT.C. MulrowC.D. ShamseerL. TetzlaffJ.M. AklE.A. BrennanS.E. ChouR. GlanvilleJ. GrimshawJ.M. HróbjartssonA. LaluM.M. LiT. LoderE.W. WilsonM.E. McDonaldS. McGuinnessL.A. StewartL.A. ThomasJ. TriccoA.C. WelchV.A. WhitingP. MoherD. The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews.Syst. Rev.20211018910.1186/s13643‑021‑01626‑4 33781348
     [Google Scholar]
  27. ClarkJ. GlasziouP. MarD.C. BrownB.A. StehlikP. ScottA.M. A full systematic review was completed in 2 weeks using automation tools: A case study.J. Clin. Epidemiol.2020121819010.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.01.008 32004673
     [Google Scholar]
  28. de HondA.A.H. LeeuwenbergA.M. HooftL. KantI.M.J. NijmanS.W.J. van OsH.J.A. AardoomJ.J. DebrayT.P.A. SchuitE. van SmedenM. ReitsmaJ.B. SteyerbergE.W. ChavannesN.H. MoonsK.G.M. Guidelines and quality criteria for artificial intelligence-based prediction models in healthcare: A scoping review.NPJ Digit. Med.202251210.1038/s41746‑021‑00549‑7 35013569
     [Google Scholar]
  29. MinozziS. DwanK. BorrelliF. FilippiniG. Reliability of the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials (RoB2) improved with the use of implementation instruction.J. Clin. Epidemiol.20221419910510.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.09.021 34537386
     [Google Scholar]
  30. MustianK.M. PaleshO.G. FlecksteinerS.A. Tai Chi Chuan for breast cancer survivors.Med. Sport Sci.20085220921710.1159/000134301
     [Google Scholar]
  31. WangY. LiX. JiX. WuJ. LiJ. ZhengW. WuC. HuangL. GengZ. ZhouJ. Adaptive auricular point acupressure for sleep disturbance in women with breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial.Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med.2022202211110.1155/2022/8637386 36353150
     [Google Scholar]
  32. HöxtermannM.D. BunerK. HallerH. KohlW. DobosG. ReinischM. KümmelS. CramerH. VoissP. Efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture for the treatment of insomnia in breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.Cancers20211316408210.3390/cancers13164082 34439234
     [Google Scholar]
  33. LiaoJ. ChenY. CaiL. WangK. WuS. WuL. SongB. HuM. HouX. Baduanjin’s impact on quality of life and sleep quality in breast cancer survivors receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy: A randomized controlled trial.Front. Oncol.20221280753110.3389/fonc.2022.807531 35992855
     [Google Scholar]
  34. ShinJ. ParkH. Effects of auricular acupressure on constipation in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy: A randomized control trial.West. J. Nurs. Res.2018401678310.1177/0193945916680362 27903827
     [Google Scholar]
  35. SmithC. CarmadyB. ThorntonC. PerzJ. UssherJ.M. The effect of acupuncture on post-cancer fatigue and well-being for women recovering from breast cancer: A pilot randomised controlled trial.Acupunct. Med.201331191510.1136/acupmed‑2012‑010228 23196311
     [Google Scholar]
  36. SprodL.K. JanelsinsM.C. PaleshO.G. CarrollJ.K. HecklerC.E. PepponeL.J. MohileS.G. MorrowG.R. MustianK.M. Health-related quality of life and biomarkers in breast cancer survivors participating in tai chi chuan.J. Cancer Surviv.20126214615410.1007/s11764‑011‑0205‑7 22160628
     [Google Scholar]
  37. ThongterathamN. PongthavornkamolK. OlsonK. RatanawichitrasinA. NityasuddhiD. WattanakitkrilertD. Effectiveness of Tai Chi Qi Qong program for Thai women with breast cancer: A randomized control trial.Pac. Rim Int. J. Nurs. Res. Thail.201519280294
     [Google Scholar]
  38. WeiX. YuanR. YangJ. ZhengW. JinY. WangM. JiangJ. WuC. LiK. Effects of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function and cancer-related symptoms in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial.Support. Care Cancer20223076079609110.1007/s00520‑022‑07015‑4 35416502
     [Google Scholar]
  39. ZhangJ. QinZ. SoT.H. ChenH. LamW.L. YamL.L. YanChan P.; Lao, L.; Zhang, Z.J. Electroacupuncture plus auricular acupressure for chemotherapy-associated insomnia in breast cancer patients: A pilot randomized controlled trial.Integr. Cancer Ther.2021201534735421101910310.1177/15347354211019103 34036813
     [Google Scholar]
  40. LarkeyL.K. RoeD.J. SmithL. MillstineD. Exploratory outcome assessment of Qigong/Tai Chi Easy on breast cancer survivors.Complement. Ther. Med.20162919620310.1016/j.ctim.2016.10.006 27912947
     [Google Scholar]
  41. LohS.Y. LeeS.Y. MurrayL. The Kuala Lumpur Qigong trial for women in the cancer survivorship phase-efficacy of a three-arm RCT to improve QOL.Asian Pac. J. Cancer Prev.201415198127813410.7314/APJCP.2014.15.19.8127 25338995
     [Google Scholar]
  42. ChenZ. MengZ. MilburyK. BeiW. ZhangY. ThorntonB. LiaoZ. WeiQ. ChenJ. GuoX. LiuL. McQuadeJ. KirschbaumC. CohenL. Qigong improves quality of life in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer.Cancer201311991690169810.1002/cncr.27904 23355182
     [Google Scholar]
  43. YingW. MinQ.W. LeiT. NaZ.X. LiL. JingL. The health effects of Baduanjin exercise (a type of Qigong exercise) in breast cancer survivors: A randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial.Eur. J. Oncol. Nurs.201939909710.1016/j.ejon.2019.01.007 30850143
     [Google Scholar]
  44. BernardR. WeissgerberT.L. BobrovE. WinhamS.J. DirnaglU. RiedelN. Fiddle: A tool to combat publication bias by getting research out of the file drawer and into the scientific community.Clin. Sci.2020134202729273910.1042/CS20201125 33111948
     [Google Scholar]
  45. DowdyA. HantulaD.A. TraversJ.C. TincaniM. Meta-analytic methods to detect publication bias in behavior science research.Perspect. Behav. Sci.2022451375210.1007/s40614‑021‑00303‑0 35342865
     [Google Scholar]
  46. CarsonK.P. SchriesheimC.A. KinickiA.J. The usefulness of the “Fail-Safe” statistic in meta-analysis.Educ. Psychol. Meas.199050223324310.1177/0013164490502001
     [Google Scholar]
  47. LongJ. An introduction to and generalization of the "Fail-Safe N."Washington, D.C200118
     [Google Scholar]
  48. WayneP.M. LeeM.S. NovakowskiJ. OsypiukK. LigibelJ. CarlsonL.E. SongR. Tai Chi and Qigong for cancer-related symptoms and quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J. Cancer Surviv.201812225626710.1007/s11764‑017‑0665‑5 29222705
     [Google Scholar]
  49. TaoW.W. JiangH. TaoX.M. JiangP. ShaL.Y. SunX.C. Effects of acupuncture, Tuina, Tai Chi, Qigong, and traditional chinese medicine five-element music therapy on symptom management and quality of life for cancer patients: A meta-analysis.J. Pain Symptom Manage.201651472874710.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.11.027 26880252
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048341106241202113327
Loading
The Impact of Non-pharmacologic Traditional Chinese Medicine on Health-Related Quality of Life and Symptom Management in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Curr Womens Health Rev. 21, e15734048341106 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0115734048341106241202113327
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048341106241202113327
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048341106241202113327
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Supplements

PRISMA checklist is available as supplementary material on the publisher’s website along with the published article. Supplementary material is available on the publisher’s website along with the published article.

file format download Download

  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): Breast cancer; health-related quality of life (HRQOL); non-pharmacologic interventions; randomized controlled trials; sleep disturbances; traditional chinese medicine

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test