The use of motion sickness bands to control nausea and vomiting in a group of hospice patients.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the potential benefits of using motion sickness bands (MSBs) to control nausea and vomiting in a hospice-based patient population.


METHODS
A nonblinded, yearlong observational study.


RESULTS
From February 2003 to February 2004, 33 patients entered into the study. The mean age of the study cohort was 67 years, with a predominance of females to males and cancer as the most common admitting diagnosis. Twenty-nine of the 33 patients studied showed a positive response to the intervention for a response rate of 88 percent.


CONCLUSIONS
MSBs demonstrated efficacy in controlling nausea and vomiting in a group of hospice patients. Added benefits of patient empowerment and financial savings also were noted. Further study is warranted.
Wright
Leonard D
LD
Hospice of Muskegon-Oceana, Muskegon, Michigan, USA.
D019050:Acupressure / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*