RECENT RESEARCH
quality of included randomized control trials ( RCTs ) and quasi-experimental studies was assessed using the Jadad Scale and the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies ( RoBANS ), respectively . All analyses were performed using the RevMan version 5.3 . The GRADEpro GDT tool was utilized to determine the level of certainty of the evidence .
Findings : Nine articles were included in the systematic review and eight studies were included in the metaanalysis . The findings showed that in the sacral massage group , the labor pain intensity was significantly decreased ( SMD = -2.40 , 95 % CI -3 . 5 to -1.29 , p < 0.0001 , I ² = 97 %). The findings also showed that sacral massage does not significantly alter the length of the first labor stage ( MD = -0.04 , 95 % CI -0.27 to 0.20 , p = 0.77 , I ² = 0 %) and the total duration of labor ( MD = -0.56 , 95 % CI -1.66 , 0.55 , p = 0.32 , I ² = 90 %). The certainty of evidence for labor pain was moderate and for duration of the first stage and total duration of labor were very low .
Conclusion : This study demonstrated that sacral massage was an effective , non-pharmacologic method that significantly alleviating pain in women during childbirth . As a result , this intervention can be implemented in clinical settings during labor .
Albayrak G , Çağlıyan Türk A , Özgül S . Effects of connective tissue massage on physical and emotional symptoms , insomnia , and quality of life in postmenopausal women : A randomized , sham-controlled trial . Maturitas . 2025 Jan ; 191:108149 . doi : 10.1016 / j . maturitas . 2024.108149
Objectives : Connective tissue massage is a therapeutic approach with local , reflex , and systemic effects . This study evaluated the effects of connective tissue massage on postmenopausal symptoms , menopause-specific quality of life , and insomnia .
Study design : A total of 57 postmenopausal women were randomly allocated to either the massage group ( n = 28 ) or the control group ( sham therapeutic ultrasound ) ( n = 29 ). Participants received massage or the sham intervention in 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks , each session lasting 15 min . The Wilcoxon test was used for within-group comparisons , and the independent groups t-test , Mann- Whitney U test , or Pearson chi-square test were used for between-group comparisons . Statistical significance was set as p ≤ . 05 .
Main outcome measures : The primary outcome was menopausal symptom severity , assessed by the Menopause Rating Scale . Secondary outcomes included hot flash frequency , hot flash score ( frequency × severity ), menopause-specific quality of life , emotional status , insomnia , and satisfaction with the intervention .
Results : Data from 52 of the 57 participants were included in the final analysis . There was a greater improvement in the massage group compared with the control group in all primary and secondary outcome measures except insomnia severity ( p ≤ . 05 ).
Conclusions : Connective tissue massage can be offered as a first-line approach to improve physical and emotional health in the short term for postmenopausal women . Further studies are needed to determine the long-term effects .
Clinical trial registration number : NCT05293860 .
Nutrition
Johnston EA , Ayre SK , Kalepa S , Bradford N , van der Pols JC . Information sharing and seeking about nutrition-related complementary and alternative medicines in online forums for people affected by cancer : A content analysis of discussion threads . J Hum Nutr Diet . 2025 Feb ; 38 ( 1 ): e13390 . doi : 10.1111 / jhn . 13390
Background : Online forums are a key source of information about complementary and alternative medicine ( CAM ) for people affected by cancer , especially when information needs are not met in healthcare settings . This study therefore investigated nutrition-related CAM information seeking and sharing in online forums for people affected by cancer .
Methods : This study was conducted in a major online platform that hosts over 10 forums for people affected by cancer and has more than 10,000 registered users . A search strategy was applied to the forums to identify discussion threads with nutritionrelated CAM information from January 2020 to December 2023 . Content analysis was used to code the topic of , reason for , and source of nutrition-related CAM information sought or shared .
Results : Of 121 threads retrieved , 40 eligible threads contained 155 instances of nutrition-related CAM information seeking or sharing across 86 posts authored by 54 unique users . Most ( 89 %) instances were information sharing rather than seeking . Topics commonly shared included using food items for medicinal purposes ( e . g ., ginger to reduce nausea ) ( 25 %), other sources of nutrition-related CAM information ( e . g ., book or naturopath ) ( 17 %), and oral nutrition supplements ( 16 %). Most common reasons for sharing nutrition-related CAM information were strategies to manage treatment side effects ( 52 %) and as complementary treatment ( 22 %). Information shared was mostly sourced from personal opinion ( 44 %) or experience ( 33 %).
Conclusions : Information sharing about nutrition-related CAM is relatively common in online forums for people affected by cancer . Healthcare professionals should facilitate access to evidence-based information and advise caution when interpreting information shared in forums .
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