• Hsiao-Yean Chiu, Yuh-Kae Shyu, Pi-Chen Chang, and Pei-Shan Tsai.
• Author Affiliations: Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University (Drs Chiu, Chang, and Tsai); Department of Nursing, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City (Dr Shyu); Department of Nursing, Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital, Taiwan (Dr Tsai); and Sleep Science Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital (Dr Tsai), Taiwan.
• Cancer Nurs. 2016 May 1; 39 (3): 228-37.

BackgroundEvidence regarding the effects of acupuncture on hot flashes in breast cancer survivors is conflicting. Little is known about the intermediate-term effects of acupuncture on hot flashes and other menopause-related symptoms in breast cancer survivors.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term and intermediate-term effects of acupuncture on menopause-related symptoms and particularly on hot flashes in breast cancer survivors.MethodsElectronic databases including EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, Wanfang Data Chinese Database, and China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database from inception until June 15, 2014, were searched. Randomized controlled trials in which acupuncture was compared with sham controls or other interventions according to the reduction of hot flashes or menopause-related symptoms in breast cancer survivors were included.ResultsWe analyzed 7 studies involving 342 participants. Acupuncture significantly reduced the frequency of hot flashes and severity of menopause-related symptoms (g = -0.23 and -0.36, respectively) immediately after the completion of treatment. In comparison with sham acupuncture, effects of true acupuncture on the frequency and severity of hot flashes were not significantly different. At 1 to 3 months' follow-up, the severity of menopause-related symptoms remained significantly reduced (g = -0.56).ConclusionAcupuncture yielded small-size effects on reducing hot-flash frequency and the severity of menopause-related symptoms.Implications For PracticeAcupuncture may be used as a complementary therapy for breast cancer survivors experiencing hot flashes and other menopause-related symptoms; however, whether acupuncture exerts specific treatment effects other than needling or placebo effects needs to be further evaluated.

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