Ansari, M., Porouhan, P., Mohammadianpanah, M., Omidvari, S., Mosalaei, A., Ahmadloo, N., . . . Hamedi, S. H. (2016). Efficacy of ginger in control of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 17, 3877–3880.

DOI Link

Study Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of adding powdered ginger to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in women with breast cancer receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

Women with breast cancer were randomized to receive either 500 mg ginger or placebo twice a day for three days, during the course of three cycles of chemotherapy.

Sample Characteristics

  • N = 150 patients (450 chemotherapy cycles)  
  • MEAN AGE = 48.6 years
  • AGE RANGE = 25-79 years
  • FEMALES: 100%
  • CURRENT TREATMENT: Chemotherapy
  • KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Breast cancer
  • OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Chemotherapy-naïve patients receiving at least three cycles of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy

Setting

  • SITE: Single site   
  • SETTING TYPE: Outpatient    
  • LOCATION: Namazi Hospital in Iran

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Study Design

Double-blind, randomized, longitudinal

Measurement Instruments/Methods

Not described; only states that participants were asked to “record the episodes of vomiting and nausea severity”

Results

No significant difference in nausea or vomiting existed when comparing the ginger group to the placebo group.

Conclusions

The results of this study do not indicate that powdered ginger capsules (1 g daily) are effective in reducing CINV in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy.

Limitations

Measurement/methods not well described

Nursing Implications

Powdered ginger capsules may not offer CINV relief for patients receiving chemotherapy.