Complementary therapies in medicine
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Complement Ther Med · Aug 2014
ReviewEffects of Tai Chi on health related quality of life in patients with chronic conditions: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
To determine the effects of Tai Chi practice on health related quality of life in patients with various chronic medical conditions. ⋯ Tai Chi appears to be safe and has positive effects on health related quality of life in patients with chronic conditions, especially for patients with disorders in Cardio-cerebrovascular and respiratory systems, and musculoskeletal system. However, as the delivery mood of Tai Chi provides multiply benefits, which part of the group provides the most benefit in improving quality of life is unclear. Due to the design limitations of previous studies, more larger and well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm the effects. And qualitative researches are warranted to explore how Tai Chi may work exactly from patients' own perspectives.
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Complement Ther Med · Jun 2014
ReviewAcupuncture and acupressure for pain management in labour and birth: a critical narrative review of current systematic review evidence.
Reviews of maternity services highlight the need for a reduction of medical interventions for women with low risk pregnancies and births to prevent the potential cascade of interventions and their associated risks. Complementary medicines (CM) such as acupuncture and acupressure have claimed to be effective in reducing interventions in labour; however, systematic reviews of evidence to date are conflicting. ⋯ The use of current systematic reviews of the evidence for acupuncture and acupressure for labour and birth may be misleading. Appropriate methods and outcome measures for investigation of acupuncture and acupressure treatment should more carefully reflect the research question being asked. The use of pragmatic trials designs with woman-centred outcomes may be appropriate for evaluating the effectiveness of these therapies.
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Complement Ther Med · Apr 2014
Intra-operative music listening for anxiety, the BIS index, and the vital signs of patients undergoing regional anesthesia.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intraoperative music listening on anxiety, the BIS index, and the vital signs of patients undergoing regional anesthesia in an operating room. ⋯ Music therapy during surgery maybe an effective nursing intervention that relieves anxiety and increases sedation in patients undergoing surgery with regional anesthesia.
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Complement Ther Med · Apr 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialComplementary effects of auricular acupressure in relieving constipation symptoms and promoting disease-specific health-related quality of life: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.
Constipation has been identified as a worldwide health problem among elderly people. Currently, it is not effectively relieved by the use of laxatives and lifestyle modification. Previous studies reported promising results in managing constipation with auricular acupressure (AA), although its effectiveness was not affirmed. This study is to evaluate the complementary effects of AA in relieving constipation symptoms and in promoting disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among elderly residential care home (RCH) residents in Hong Kong. ⋯ The current findings indicated positive clinical value of AA with magnetic pellets in managing constipation in elderly RCH residents. AA was also found to be a safe and acceptable intervention.
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Complement Ther Med · Apr 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialMindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the treatment of headache pain: A mixed-methods analysis comparing treatment responders and treatment non-responders.
Our recent pilot study demonstrated mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a potentially efficacious headache pain treatment; however, it was not universally effective for all participants. This study sought to explore patient characteristics associated with MBCT treatment response and the potential processes of change that allowed treatment responders to improve and that were potentially lacking in the non-responders. ⋯ Results indicated that change in pain related cognitions during an MBCT intervention for headache pain is a key factor underlying treatment response.