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


METHODS
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.
Taspinar
Ayten
A
Manisa School of Health, Celal Bayar University, 45010 Manisa, Turkey. aytaspinar@yahoo.com
Sirin
Ahsen
A
D019050:Acupressure / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
D000932:Antiemetics