Bradt, J., Shim, M., & Goodill, S.W. (2015). Dance/movement therapy for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015(1). 

DOI Link

Purpose

STUDY PURPOSE: To update a previous review examining the effects of dance therapy on psychological outcomes in patients with cancer
 
TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review

Search Strategy

DATABASES USED: Cochrane Collaboration, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, LILACS, Science Citation Index, CancerLit, International Bibliography of theater and dance, Proquest Dissertations, and ClinicalTrials.gov
 
KEYWORDS: Detailed search terms per database are provided
 
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Any study in which dance or movement therapy was compared to standard care alone or standard care combined with other therapies
 
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Interventions provided by an individual other than a formally trained dance or movement therapist or trainee in a formal dance or movement therapy program

Literature Evaluated

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 708 in update (770 in initial review)
 
EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Authors evaluated risk of bias and applied the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation Scale (GRADES) for levels of evidence

Sample Characteristics

  • FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 3 (2 studies included in meta-analysis)
  • TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW = 207
  • SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 31–139 patients
  • KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: One study conducted in Hong Kong

Results

Two studies examined effects on depression. These were rated as having a very low quality of evidence using the GRADES system. The pooled effect of two studies showed no effect for depression. Two studies that reported anxiety showed no statistically significant effect on anxiety. Pooled results from two studies showed no support for an effect on fatigue. One study showed greater vigor with dance compared to standard care (SMD = 1.44, p = 0.0004). One study showed no significant effect for pain.

Conclusions

No conclusions could be drawn regarding effect of dance or movement therapy.

Limitations

The quality of the evidence was very low, and two of the three trials showed a moderate risk of bias rating.

Nursing Implications

The findings of research regarding the effects of dance or movement therapy are inconclusive because of the few available studies of low quality. Additional, well-designed research to determine any potential benefits of dance versus other types of exercise and movement therapy is needed. The impact of movement as a creative art therapy is uncertain.

Legacy ID

5262