Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41865348›Full record

ReviewSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026

Application of auriculotherapy in cancer-related fatigue symptom cluster: a scoping review.

Fanrui Li, Hejia Wan, Xiaohui Liu, Yuanting Deng, Wuyang Tian, Zilin Zhao

Abstract readScoping ReviewReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Fanrui LiSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-9911-8016
Hejia WanSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-3900-1967
Xiaohui LiuSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China. 1173652033@qq.com.
Yuanting DengSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-0746-4134
Wuyang TianSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-5705-5595
Zilin ZhaoSchool of Nursing (Nursing School of Smart Healthcare Industry), Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-6167-4842

Funding

Henan Provincial Health Commission 2020 Traditional Chinese Medicine Scientific Research Special Project 20-21ZY2113Henan Provincial Health Commission Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base Special Project[2022] 2021JDZX2032Henan Provincial Health Commission Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture and Management Research Project[2023] TCM2023009Henan Provincial Science and Technology Association Popular Science Project[2025] HNKP2025089
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo systematically review the intervention content and efficacy of auriculotherapy in alleviating cancer-related fatigue symptom clusters, analyze its current application status and existing limitations, and provide references for clinical practice and future research.

methodsA scoping review was adopted. Systematic searches were conducted in databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and CINAHL. The search period spanned from the inception of each database to May 15, 2025. Relevant data from the included studies were extracted and analyzed.

resultsFourteen studies with a total sample size of 1208 participants were ultimately included. The interventions primarily targeted the pain-fatigue-sleep disturbance symptom cluster and the fatigue-anxiety symptom cluster. Auricular acupressure was the most common intervention, with an average of five to 12 auricular points selected. Shenmen, subcortex, and sympathetic were the top three most frequently used auricular points. The intervention durations ranged from 3 days to 8 weeks, with frequencies of intervention of three to six times per day. The common intervention methods included auricular acupressure, auricular acupuncture, and auricular laser therapy.

conclusionAuriculotherapy is simple to operate, low in cost, and highly safe and was associated with potential benefits in the management of cancer-related fatigue symptom clusters, though intervention protocols varied widely. However, the current intervention protocols are not standardized, and there is a lack of unified symptom cluster assessment tools. Future research should standardize the intervention protocols and optimize the evaluation tools and auricular intervention regimens, so as to further enhance the clinical value of auriculotherapy in the management of cancer-related fatigue symptom clusters.

Indexed as

AuriculotherapyFatigueNeoplasmsAcupressureAnxietyHumansSleep Wake DisordersAuriculotherapyCancerCancer-related fatigueScoping reviewSymptom cluster

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.