Eghbali, M., Yekaninejad, M.S., Varaei, S., Jalalinia, S.F., Samimi, M.A., & Sa'atchi, K. (2016). The effect of auricular acupressure on nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy among breast cancer patients. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 24, 189–194. 

DOI Link

Study Purpose

To determine if the use of auricular acupressure is effective in relieving nausea and vomiting in patients with breast cancer who are receiving chemotherapy

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

Random assignment of patients: The experimental group received standard antiemetics for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and auricular acupressure (AA) for five days. The control group received standard antiemetics only. Acute and delayed CINV was measured with the Morrow questionnaire daily for five days after receiving chemotherapy. The questionnaire has 16 items measured with a 7-degree Likert-type scale. Patients self-reported. For the second cycle of chemotherapy, the groups were switched.

Sample Characteristics

  • N = 48   
  • AGE = 32–65 years
  • MEAN AGE = 46.02 years
  • FEMALES: 100%
  • CURRENT TREATMENT: Chemotherapy
  • KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Breast cancer
  • OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Use of anthracycline, cyclophosphamide, and taxane—high-risk for CINV

Setting

  • SITE: Multi-site   
  • SETTING TYPE: Outpatient    
  • LOCATION: Iran

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Study Design

Crossover clinical trial

Measurement Instruments/Methods

Morrow (Moro) questionnaire

Results

  • Number and intensity of nausea in acute and delayed phases in the AA group was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.001).
  • The number and intensity of vomiting in the AA group was significantly lower (p < 0.005). 

Conclusions

The use of auricular acupressure was shown to help alleviate CINV when used along with standard antiemetics in patients with breast cancer receiving moderate to high-risk emetogenic chemotherapy.

Limitations

  • Small sample (< 100)
  • Risk of bias (no blinding)
  • The experimental group's and control group’s intervention was changed in the second cycle.

Nursing Implications

Auricular acupressure is a safe, noninvasive, easy, patient-administered, nursing-centered, nonpharmacologic treatment and was shown to lower the number and intensity of nausea in both the acute and delayed phases of treatment.