1Lecturer, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Father Muller College of Nursing, Mangalore
2Associate Professor, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing Manipal, Manipal University
3Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing Manipal, Manipal University
To investigate the effectiveness of acupressure in reducing CINV, and to find the correlation between functional status and nausea experience.
40 cancer patients receiving cisplatin as radiosensitizer chemotherapy were divided into experimental and control group (n=20 each). Both group received regular antiemetic medication; however the intervention group received finger acupressure to the selected acu-points for nausea and vomiting (Pericardium -6 & Heart -7) for 3 min on each point bilaterally (Total 12 minutes) twice daily for 3 days, starting from second day of chemotherapy. Both group reported nausea and vomiting using Rhodes index of nausea and vomiting. Functional status was assessed using functional status index.
Nausea experience was significantly lower in experimental group compared to the control group (P = 0.002) and a significant weak negative correlation was found between the nausea experience and functional status (P = 0.026).
Nausea experience can have significant impact on the functional status of the cancer patients and acupressure can be useful for reducing chemotherapy induced nausea.
Acupressure, Nausea, Vomiting, Functional Status, Cisplatin, Radiosensitizer Chemotherapy, Cancer Patients
