Effect of acupressure on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in gynecologic cancer patients in Turkey

Abstract

Purpose The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of acupressure applied to the pericardium 6 (P6 or Neiguan) acupuncture point with a wristband (Sea-Band™) on nausea–vomiting in addition to the standard antiemetic medications used to prevent nausea–vomiting due to chemotherapy in gynecologic cancer patients. Method In this prospective research we used pre- and posttests. The study consisted of 34 patients with gynecologic cancer. Results We found a significant decrease in the patients' mean scores of nausea and the use of antiemetic medications following acupressure applied to the patients with a wristband, when compared with their mean scores of nausea and the use of antiemetic medications prior to the application ( p < 0.05), and we also observed a decline in their mean scores of vomiting and retching episodes; however, this decline was not found to be statistically significant ( p > 0.05). Conclusions The findings from this study suggest that the acupressure applied to P6 acupuncture point with wristbands may be effective in reducing chemotherapy-related nausea and may decrease the antiemetic use after chemotherapy. Further research with more subjects is needed.