The efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation wrist bands for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. A University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program multicenter study.
As an adjunct to standard antiemetics for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (NV), 739 patients were randomly assigned to either: 1) acupressure bands, 2) an acustimulation band, or 3) a no band control condition. Patients in the acupressure condition experienced less nausea on the day of treatment compared to controls (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in delayed nausea or vomiting among the three treatment conditions. Additional analyses revealed pronounced gender differences. Men in the acustimulation condition, but not the acupressure condition, had less NV compared to controls (P<0.05). No significant differences among the three treatment conditions were observed in women, although the reduction in nausea on the day of treatment in the acupressure, compared to the no band condition, closely approached statistical significance (P=0.052). Expected efficacy of the bands was related to outcomes for the acupressure but not the acustimulation conditions.
Roscoe
Joseph A
JA
University of Rochester Cancer Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
Morrow
Gary R
GR
Hickok
Jane T
JT
Bushunow
Peter
P
Pierce
H Irving
HI
Flynn
Patrick J
PJ
Kirshner
Jeffrey J
JJ
Moore
Dennis F
DF
Atkins
James N
JN
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D019050:Acupressure; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003151:Community Health Centers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents