Hot Flashes Search Strategy and Results

Initial references prior to update: 44

Databases searched for update: PubMed, CINAHL

Search results of literature retrieved May 1, 2008–January 4, 2017:

  • PubMed:
    • Search phrase 1: hot flashes[mesh] AND ((((("Complementary Therapies"[Mesh] OR (complementary AND therap*)) OR "Hypnosis"[Mesh]) OR "Biofeedback (Psychology)"[Mesh]) OR "Meditation"[Mesh] OR meditat* OR biofeedback OR hypno*) OR "Yoga"[Mesh] OR yoga) OR ("Breathing Exercises"[Mesh]) OR (deep AND breath*) AND ("2008/05/01"[PDAT] : "2017/01/04"[PDAT] AND "humans"[MeSH Terms] AND English[lang] AND cancer[sb] AND "adult"[MeSH Terms])
    • 284 citations retrieved from search phrase 1
    • Search phrase 2: hot flashes[mesh] AND (cancer OR neoplasms) AND ((((((((((("Antidepressive Agents"[Mesh] OR "Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors"[Mesh]) OR "Clonidine"[Mesh]) OR "gabapentin "[Substance]) OR "Hormone Replacement Therapy"[Mesh]) OR "Megestrol Acetate"[Mesh]) OR "Medroxyprogesterone 17-Acetate"[Mesh]) OR "venlafaxine "[Substance]) OR "Paroxetine"[Mesh]) OR "Fluoxetine"[Mesh]) OR "Citalopram"[Mesh]) OR "O-desmethylvenlafaxine "[Substance] OR antidepress* OR ((serotonin OR norepinephrine) AND reuptake AND inhibitor*) OR clonidine OR gabapentin OR ((hormon* OR estrogen OR progesterone) AND therap*) OR (megestrol OR medroxyprogesterone) AND acetate) OR venlaxafine OR effexor OR paroxetine OR paxil OR fluoxetine OR prozac OR celexa OR citalopram OR desvenlafaxine OR pristiq OR neurontin OR "Hot Flashes/drug therapy"[Mesh] AND ("2008/05/01"[PDAT] : "2017/01/04"[PDAT] AND "humans"[MeSH Terms] AND English[lang] AND cancer[sb] AND "adult"[MeSH Terms])
    • 521 citations retrieved from search phrase 2
    • Search phrase 3: Hot Flashes[mesh] AND (((("Dietary Supplements"[Mesh] OR "Cimicifuga"[Mesh] OR (dietary AND supplement*) OR cimicifuga OR "black cohosh") OR "Isoflavones"[Mesh] OR isoflavones) OR "Soybeans/therapeutic use"[Mesh] OR soy) OR "Trifolium"[Mesh] OR "red clover") OR "Naturopathy"[Mesh] AND ("2008/05/01"[PDAT] : "2017/01/04"[PDAT] AND "humans"[MeSH Terms] AND English[lang] AND "adult"[MeSH Terms])
    • 140 citations retrieved from search phrase 3
    • Search phrase 4:("Hot Flashes/therapy"[Mesh] AND "Neoplasms/therapy"[Mesh] AND ((English[lang]) AND (adult[MeSH]))) OR ((("Hot Flashes/therapy"[Mesh]) OR (therap* AND ("hot flash" OR hot flashes))) AND (("Prostatic Neoplasms"[Mesh] AND ((English[lang]) AND (adult[MeSH]))) AND ((cancer* OR neoplasm*) AND (prostat*) AND ((English[lang]) AND (adult[MeSH]))) AND ((English[lang]) AND (adult[MeSH])))) OR ((("Hot Flashes/therapy"[Mesh]) OR (therap* AND ("hot flash" OR hot flashes))) AND (((cancer* OR neoplasm*) AND breast AND ((English[lang]) AND (adult[MeSH]))) AND ("Breast Neoplasms"[Mesh] AND ((English[lang]) AND (adult[MeSH]))) AND ((English[lang]) AND (adult[MeSH]))) AND ((English[lang]) AND (adult[MeSH]))) AND ("2008/05/01"[PDAT] : "2017/01/04"[PDAT] AND "humans"[MeSH Terms] AND English[lang] AND "adult"[MeSH Terms])
    • 169 citations retrieved from search phrase 4
  • CINAHL:
    • (MM hot flashes AND (cancer OR neoplasms OR oncolog*)) OR ((“hot flash*” OR “hot flush*”) AND (cancer OR neoplasms OR oncolog*) AND ((MH Alternative Therapies OR (complementary AND therap*)) OR MH hypnosis OR MH biofeedback OR MH Meditation OR (meditat* OR biofeedback OR hypno*) OR yoga OR MH “Breathing Exercises” OR (deep AND breath*) OR MH “Antidepressive Agents” OR MH “Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors” OR MH “Hormone Replacement Therapy” OR Clonidine OR Megestrol OR venlafaxine OR Paroxetine OR medroxyprogesterone OR effexor OR paxil OR fluoxetine OR prozac OR celexa OR citalopram OR desvenlafaxine OR pristiq OR neurontin OR MH “Dietary Supplements” OR (dietary AND supplement*) OR Cimicifuga OR “black cohosh” OR Isoflavones OR soy OR soybean* OR Trifolium OR MH Naturopathy OR “red clover”))
    • Limiters: Published Date: 20080501-20170104, English Language, Research Article
    • 127 citations retrieved

87 titles were selected for full article review.

91 final studies were included after the removal of duplicates and studies that did not meet inclusion criteria and the addition of manuscripts retrieved in other topics meeting hot flashes-specific criteria.

Inclusion Criteria: 

  1. Full research report, systematic review, guideline, or meta-analysis
  2. Study must report results of measurement of hot flashes
  3. The study examines an intervention aimed at affecting the symptom of hot flashes.
  4. Study sample must include patients with cancer
  5. As of 1/1/2016, additional inclusions are (a) sample size of at least 40 or 20 per study group, and (b) for complex interventions, the description of the intervention must be sufficient to identify the components of that intervention.

Exclusion Criteria: 

  1. Grey literature
  2. Descriptive studies
  3. Samples involving children or adolescents (sample participants < 19 years old)