The efficiency of the acupressure in prevention of the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
OBJECTIVE
This experimental study was planned to assess the efficiency of the acupressure in prevention of the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).


METHODS
This single-blinded randomized trial was performed at Istanbul University Institute of Oncology between October 2010 and January 2011. The patients, diagnosed with breast, gynecological, or lung cancer treated by doxorubicin-based- or cisplatin-based treatment were included in the study. Taking the consent of the patients, they were divided into experimental (n = 67) and control groups (n = 53) in line with the randomization list prepared before. The patient description form, Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General were used in data collection. Non-parametric tests were applied.


RESULTS
The patients in the experimental and control groups were identical in terms of sociodemographic features and their conditions. Most of the patients were married (84 %), and some were primary school graduates (41.7 %) and had mid-level income (54.2 %). In nausea-vomiting-retching, experiences of the patients before using a placebo and a real acupressure were identical and similar changes had been observed during 5 days after the treatment. It has been determined that there was no difference between the groups statistically. A similar result has been observed when the impact of acupressure on the subgroups of sociodemographic features and condition were examined, and it has been concluded that real acupressure application cannot increase the quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
It has been determined that CINV is directly related to the treatment, and acupressure wristband was not an effective approach in preventing CINV.
Nursing Department, Health Sciences School, Istanbul Arel University, Türkoba Mahallesi Erguvan Sokak No 26 Tepekent-Büyükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey. asligenc@arel.edu.tr
Aslı
A
Genç
Gulbeyaz
G
Can
Adnan
A
Aydiner
D019050:Acupressure; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014421:Turkey; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin