The effects of P6 acupressure and nurse-provided counseling on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose/objectives: To evaluate the effects of pericardium 6 (P6) acupressure and nurse-provided counseling on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with breast cancer.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

Setting: A university cancer center in Seoul, South Korea.

Sample: 120 women who were beginning their second cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy after definitive surgery for breast cancer and who had more than mild levels of nausea and vomiting with the first cycle of chemotherapy.

Methods: Participants were assigned randomly into four groups: control (placebo on SI3), counseling only, P6 acupressure only, and P6 acupressure plus nurse-provided counseling. The experiences of upper-gastrointestinal distress were measured by the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching for acute (day 1) and delayed (day 2 to day 5) CINV.

Main research variables: Nausea, retching, vomiting, P6 acupressure, and counseling.

Findings: No significant differences were found in the demographic and disease-related variables among the four groups. The levels of CINV were significantly different among the groups from day 2 to day 5. The CINV differences were attributed mainly to the difference between the control group and the group with P6 acupressure plus nurse-provided counseling. The effects of acupressure were proven from day 2 to day 5, and the effects of nurse-provided counseling were proven on day 4 and were close to significance level on day 5.

Conclusions: Synergic effects of P6 acupressure with nurse-provided counseling appeared to be effective in reducing CINV in patients with breast cancer.

Implications for nursing: P6 acupressure combined with counseling by nurses is a safe and easy-to-apply tool in CINV management in practice.