Effect of transcutanclus electrical acupoint stimulation used to alleviate cancer related fatigue in cancerchemotherapy patients

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutanclus electrical acupoint stimulation used to alleviate cancer related fatigue in cancer-chemotherapy patients and improve the quality of cancer patients＇ life. Methods Gastrointestinal-cancer hospitalized patients, with chemotherapy, who felt fatigue, were randomly assigned to experimental group and control group. The control group used conventional treatment and care. The experimental group, on the same baseline, used TEAS treatment （acupoints： Xuehai, Zusanli and Sanyinjiao）. Patients were observed before and after intervention. The piper fatigue scale （Chinese version） was used to score and determine the effect. Results All dimension scores and total scores were not different （P 〉 0. 05 ） ; Fatigue dimension in experimental group was （6.85±0.21 ） before intervention and （6.76±0.13） after intervention, and the different was significant （t = 2. 171, P 〈 0. 05 ）. Behavioral fatigue score and total piper fatigue score were （5.53±0. 18）, and （6.10±0. 09）, respectively, and （ 5.65±0. 22）, （6.17±0. 11 ） in control group, the differences were significant （ t = 2. 275, 2. 615, respectively, P 〈 0. 05）. In behavioral, cognitive, emotional fatigue dimensions, there were no difference （P 〉 0. 05）. Conclusions TEAS is effective to those cancer related fatigue patients with chemotherapy. However, there are individual differences. Further studies are needed. Key words: Cancer; Transcutanclus electrical acupoint stimulation （TEAS）; Cancer relatedfatigue; Nursing