Comparative effects of different types of mind-body exercise interventions for negative emotions in cancer patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Xinyu Zhao, Xiangtao Chen, Jian Ma et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of various mind-body exercise interventions on negative emotions in cancer patients, analyzing data from 64 randomized controlled trials involving 4448 participants. The study found that Baduanjin was associated with the greatest reduction in anxiety, while Wuqinxi was most effective for depression, although the certainty of evidence was low to moderate.
Key findings
- Mind-body exercises significantly reduced anxiety (SMD = -1.14, p < 0.00001) and depression (SMD = -0.87, p < 0.00001) compared to control.
- Baduanjin ranked highest for anxiety relief, while Wuqinxi was most effective for depression.
- No serious adverse events were reported in the studies assessing adverse effects.
Why it matters
Understanding the comparative effectiveness of mind-body exercises can help clinicians recommend appropriate interventions to improve emotional well-being in cancer patients, potentially enhancing their quality of life during treatment.
What to keep in mind
The certainty of evidence for network estimates ranged from moderate to very low, primarily due to risk of bias and imprecision.