Acustimulation wristbands for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea.
BACKGROUND
Substantial evidence suggests that acupuncture-point stimulation may be effective in controlling side effects of chemotherapy.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy of an acustimulation wristband for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea.


METHODS
Randomized clinical trial using a 3-level crossover design.


METHODS
Three outpatient oncology clinics in the northeastern United States.


METHODS
Twenty-five women and 2 men who experienced moderate or more severe nausea following their first chemotherapy treatment.


METHODS
We compared active acustimulation of the Pericardium 6 (PC-6) point on the ventral surface of the wrist with sham acustimulation (a corresponding point on the posterior surface of the wrist). A control group received no acustimulation.


METHODS
Severity of nausea and quantity of antiemetic medication used.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences in average severity of nausea were observed between the 3 interventions. However, the data showed a difference close to statistical significance in the severity of delayed nausea reported during active acustimulation compared to no acustimulation (P <.06). In addition, patients took fewer antinausea pills during the active-acustimulation cycle of this experiment compared to the no-acustimulation phase (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings on the efficacy of an acustimulation band for the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea are positive but not conclusive. These findings provide ample justification for further study of acustimulation in clinical oncology.
University of Rochester Cancer Center, NY, USA.
Joseph A
JA
Roscoe
Gary R
GR
Morrow
Peter
P
Bushunow
Lili
L
Tian
Sara
S
Matteson
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D009511:New England; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D014953:Wrist
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents