The effects of P6 acupressure in the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients

Summary Background Nausea, and to a lesser extend vomiting, remain significant clinical problems after the administration of chemotherapy, with up to 60% of patients reporting nausea despite use of antiemetics. Combining antiemetics with other non-pharmacological treatments may prove more effective in decreasing nausea than antiemetics alone. Hence, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using acupressure in Pericardium 6 (Neiguan) acu-point in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Methods This was a randomised controlled trial. Acupressure was applied using wristbands (Sea-Band™) which patients in the experimental group had to wear for the 5 days following the chemotherapy administration. Assessments of nausea, retching and vomiting were obtained from all patients daily for 5 days. Thirty-six patients completed the study from two centres in the UK, with 19 patients allocated to the control arm and 17 to the experimental arm. Results It was found that nausea and retching experience , and nausea, vomiting and retching occurrence and distress were all significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). The only exception was with the vomiting experience, which was close to significance ( P = 0.06). Discussion Results highlight the important role of safe and convenient non-pharmacological complementary therapies, such as acupressure, in the management of the complex symptoms of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.