Jones, E., Isom, S., Kemper, K.J., & McLean, T.W. (2008). Acupressure for chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting in children. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 6, 141–145.
To assess the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of acupressure therapy for preventing or reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in children receiving chemotherapy
The study was conducted in a single inpatient site at a children’s hospital in North Carolina.
All participants were pediatric patients in active treatment.
This was a pilot study. It was a prospective, randomized, crossover clinical trial.
The study used modified methods of Morrow questionnaires. It did not state how the tool was modified. No reliability or validity information was provided.
Questionnaires quantified nausea on an 11-point Likert scale, collected demographics and diagnoses, and measured the following.
Although acupressure bands did not show a reduction in nausea or vomiting, patients perceived the bands as moderately effective, planned to use them in the future, and indicated they would recommend them.
The acupressure bands did not demonstrate a significant change in actual incidence of nausea and vomiting; however, this therapy may be helpful in reducing expectations of CINV.