Summary
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-BandTM) 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 nonpharmacological
complementary therapies, such as acupressure, in the management
of the complex symptoms of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.
© 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.