A planned systematic review and network meta-analysis will examine acupuncture's effectiveness in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) for breast cancer patients. This research addresses a critical need for comparative evidence in supportive cancer care, as CINV remains a significant disruptive side effect, impacting up to 80% of patients.
The review will analyze randomized controlled trials comparing various acupuncture techniques, including hand needling, electroacupuncture, and acupressure, against sham acupuncture, antiemetic drugs, and other acupuncture methods. Primary outcomes will focus on nausea and vomiting intensity and clinical effectiveness rates, with secondary outcomes including safety and quality of life. The analysis is expected to provide clinicians with a practical framework for selecting acupuncture strategies to alleviate CINV.
Expected completion for the literature search is June 2026, with the final manuscript anticipated by December 2026.