The effect of Auricular Acupressure on acute nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy among breast cancer patients

Introduction & Aim: One of the main alternatives for treating breast cancer is chemotherapy. That approximately 75% of patients experience acute nausea and vomiting (24 houre after chemotherapy). The aim of this study is to determine the effect of auricular acupressure in relieving sensation of acute nausea and vomiting among the women who suffer from breast cancer and receive chemotherapy. Methods: This study was a randomized posttest only design randomized clinical trial on 48 women suffering from Breast Cancer who was receiving chemotherapy as outpatients hospital care, chemotherapy, Imam Khomeini (RA) and Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital was performed. Before chemotherapy and after obtaining informed consent, the patients were randomly allocated into intervention and control group. Intervention group received routine medications for controlling nausea and vomiting as well as auricular acupressure. Meanwhile, the control group received only the routine medications. The data were gathered by using demographic and Morro Standard Questionnaire. The results obtained from both groups were compared by using the SPSS version 21 software and statistical tests Results: the result shows, Using auricular acupressure led to a decrease in the number and the intensity of nausea at acute phases which was statistically significant (P=0/001). Acupressure is applied, resulting in a significant reduction in the severity and frequency of vomiting. The uses of acupressure not lead to any complications in patients. Conclusions: According to the results of this research, it could be stated that using auricular acupressure on shenmen, Point zero, stomach, Brainstem, cardia points for nausea and vomiting can relieve it at acute phase. It is suggested that nurses use this pressure technique as a complementary treatment for relieving the nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy

کلیدواژه ها:

Auricular Acupressure ، Acute nausea and vomiting ، breast cancer ، chemotherapy