The effects of P6 acupressure in the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Nausea, and to a lesser extend vomiting, remain significant clinical problems after the administration of chemotherapy, with up to 60% of patients reporting nausea despite use of antiemetics. Combining antiemetics with other non-pharmacological treatments may prove more effective in decreasing nausea than antiemetics alone. Hence, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using acupressure in Pericardium 6 (Neiguan) acu-point in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

METHODS:

This was a randomised controlled trial. Acupressure was applied using wristbands (Sea-Band) which patients in the experimental group had to wear for the 5 days following the chemotherapy administration. Assessments of nausea, retching and vomiting were obtained from all patients daily for 5 days. Thirty-six patients completed the study from two centres in the UK, with 19 patients allocated to the control arm and 17 to the experimental arm.

RESULTS:

It was found that nausea and retching experience, and nausea, vomiting and retching occurrence and distress were all significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The only exception was with the vomiting experience, which was close to significance (P=0.06).

DISCUSSION:

Results highlight the important role of safe and convenient non-pharmacological complementary therapies, such as acupressure, in the management of the complex symptoms of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.

• Authors: A Molassiotis, A M Helin, R Dabbour, S Hummerston
• Journal: Complementary therapies in medicine (Complement Ther Med) Vol. 15 Issue 1 Pg. 3-12 (Mar 2007) ISSN: 0965-2299 [Print] Scotland
• PMID: 17352966 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiemetics
• Antineoplastic Agents

Topics

• Acupressure
• Adult
• Aged
• Antiemetics (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Educational Status
• Female
• Humans
• Marital Status
• Middle Aged
• Nausea (chemically induced, therapy)
• Vomiting (chemically induced, therapy)