The clinical effect of an electric massage chair on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: randomized phase II cross-over trial.

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common adverse events in cancer patients and can negatively affect their quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an electric massage chair (EMC) for the treatment of CINV. METHODS: A randomized phase II cross-over trial was conducted on solid cancer patients who received moderate (MEC) to high emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). The participants were randomly assigned to receive their first chemotherapy either on a standard bed (Group A) or in an EMC (Group B) during the infusion. The patients were then crossed over to the next cycle. CINV and QoL questionnaires were collected from the participants. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients completed the trial protocol and were included in the analysis, with 29 and 30 patients in Groups A and B, respectively. The mean INVR (Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching) score in the 2nd day of the first cycle was higher in Group B (3.63 ± 5.35) than Group A (2.76 ± 4.78), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.5367). The complete response rate showed little difference between the groups. Among the high-emetic risk subgroups, patients who received HEC (p = 0.04595), younger patients (p = 0.0108), and non-colorectal cancer patients (p = 0.0495) presented significantly lower CINV scores when EMC was applied. CONCLUSION: Overall, there was no significant difference in INVR scores between standard care and EMC. Applying EMC at the first chemotherapy infusion may help preserve QoL and reduce CINV in high-risk patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: KCT0008200, 17/02/2023, Retrospectively registered.

Effects of auriculotherapy on nausea and vomiting in pregnant women: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy induces physiological changes, commonly marked by nausea and vomiting in the first trimester, posing risks for both mother and baby. This study evaluates the effects of auriculotherapy on nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in two primary health care centers with 56 Brazilian pregnant women who reported nausea or vomiting in the first trimester. The participants were divided into an intervention group (auriculotherapy with seeds) and a placebo group (sham auriculotherapy). The intervention was divided into three moments: pre-intervention with assessment of nausea and vomiting and application of questionnaires, and two follow-ups conducted on the fourth and seventh day of the intervention, with reassessment of nausea and vomiting. RESULTS: Both groups experienced a decrease in nausea and vomiting over time, with no statistically significant differences between groups in the within-group analyses at various time points. The intervention group had a greater reduction in symptoms. Within the intervention group, symptoms were more common among ferrous sulfate users and those without reported dietary disturbances. In addition, a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting was associated with the use of analgesics, morning snacks, and low intake of protein, vegetables, and fruits. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention did not affect the between-group differences in the incidence of nausea and vomiting and vomiting effort in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, a greater reduction was observed in the intervention group.

The Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum (Green-top Guideline No. 69).

An objective and validated index of nausea and vomiting such as the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) and HyperEmesis Level Prediction (HELP) tools can be used to classify the severity of NVP and HG. [Grade C] Ketonuria is not an indicator of dehydration and should not be used to assess severity. [Grade A] There are safety and efficacy data for first line antiemetics such as anti (H1) histamines, phenothiazines and doxylamine/pyridoxine (Xonvea®) and they should be prescribed initially when required for NVP and HG (Appendix III). [Grade A] There is evidence that ondansetron is safe and effective. Its use as a second line antiemetic should not be discouraged if first line antiemetics are ineffective. Women can be reassured regarding a very small increase in the absolute risk of orofacial clefting with ondansetron use in the first trimester, which should be balanced with the risks of poorly managed HG. [Grade B] Metoclopramide is safe and effective and can be used alone or in combination with other antiemetics. [Grade B] Because of the risk of extrapyramidal effects metoclopramide should be used as second-line therapy. Intravenous doses should be administered by slow bolus injection over at least 3 minutes to help minimise these. [Grade C] Women should be asked about previous adverse reactions to antiemetic therapies. If adverse reactions occur, there should be prompt cessation of the medications. [GPP] Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) with additional potassium chloride in each bag, with administration guided by daily monitoring of electrolytes, is the most appropriate intravenous hydration. [Grade C] Combinations of different drugs should be used in women who do not respond to a single antiemetic. Suggested antiemetics for UK use are given in Appendix III. [GPP] Thiamine supplementation (either oral 100 mg tds or intravenous as part of vitamin B complex (Pabrinex®)) should be given to all women admitted with vomiting, or severely reduced dietary intake, especially before administration of dextrose or parenteral nutrition. [Grade D] All therapeutic measures should have been tried before considering termination of pregnancy. [Grade C].

Effects of aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: Aromatherapy offers a low-risk solution for effectively managing common nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess its impact on these symptoms to facilitate practical guidelines establishment. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Embase were searched for articles published until April 30, 2023. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer (age ≥18 years). The effect size was calculated using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with a random effects model. Subgroup analyses, meta-analysis of variance, and meta-regression were performed using the "meta" package in R version 4.0.2. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics. Sensitivity and publication bias analyses were performed; two reviewers independently assessed risk of bias using Cochrane's risk-of-bias tool 2.0. RESULTS: Twenty-five RCTs across 10 articles revealed that aromatherapy reduced overall nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer with significant efficacy (SMD = -0.81, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: -1.11 to -0.52). Furthermore, aromatherapy reduced nausea (SMD = -0.85, 95 % CI: -1.23 to -0.46) and combined nausea and vomiting (SMD = -1.08, 95 % CI: -1.68 to -0.47), but not vomiting alone (SMD = -0.24, 95 % CI: -1.03 to 0.55). Inhalation and massage yielded positive results, especially in chemotherapy-induced cases; peppermint oil was particularly successful. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore aromatherapy's value in managing cancer treatment-associated nausea and vomiting. Conclusive evidence on aromatherapy-led nausea reduction is lacking due to limited RCTs; research is warranted for robust conclusions.

Effect of acupressure in nausea and vomiting treatment during pregnancy: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Many women experience nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Regardless of the disease severity, it affects the work and life of pregnant women. However, drug treatment may potentially impact the foetus; thus, alternative safe and effective measures are essential. We aimed to evaluate the effect of acupressure, a non-drug treatment for nausea and vomiting, during pregnancy. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wanfang databases were searched using 'pregnancy', 'nausea', 'vomiting', and 'acupressure' as keywords. The search period was from database inception to 30 November 2022. Two researchers independently screened articles, extracted data, and used RevMan 5.4 software for statistical analysis. RESULTS: We included 33 trials and 3 390 patients in this meta-analysis. Acupressure was effective for women with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (odds ratio (OR)= 4.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) [3.47, 6.68]; p<0.0001); it significantly reduced the nausea score of the Rhodes index (mean square deviation (MD): -3.21, 95% CI [-4.85, -1.57], Z = 3.83, p = 0.0001), modified Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea score (MD: -2.18, 95% CI [-3.21, -1.15], Z = 4.15, p<0.0001), and hospital stay (OR=-3.27, 95% CI [-6.18, -0.36]; p = 0.03) and improved quality of life (MD: -14.06,95% CI [- 17.31, -10.18], Z = 8.48, p<0.00001). However, no significant difference was observed in nursing satisfaction and anxiety scores (OR=4.13, 95% CI [0.89, 19.15]; p = 0.07) (MD: -13.26,95% CI [-32.04,5.53], Z = 1.38, p = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides evidence of a non-drug intervention for women with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy; acupressure effectively reduces nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Efficacy and safety of acupressure in nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupressure on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Springer, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for all randomized controlled trials (RCT) of treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy by acupressure from the inception date of database to July 31st, 2023. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently by researchers. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated by the Cochrane Collaboration's bias risk assessment tool, meta-analysis by Stata 17.0 software, and publication bias by Begg's test. RESULTS: A total of 11 RCTs involving 1378 pregnant women were included in this review, which was assessed to be moderate quality. 10 RCTs involving 1298 pregnant women were assessed for the meta-analysis. The results revealed that acupressure showed significant difference on improvement in symptom score compared with sham acupressure (pooled MD, - 1.33; 95%CI [- 2.06, - 0.61]; P < 0.001) or control group (pooled MD, - 0.73; 95%CI [- 1.08, - 0.39]; P < 0.001), and incidence of effective rate compared with sham acupressure group (pooled RR, 1.78; 95%CI [1.03, 3.07]; P = 0.039). However, no statistical significance was found between acupressure and control group (pooled RR, 4.53; 95%CI [0.67, 30.48]; P = 0.120) on effective rate. On comparing acupressure with sham acupressure, there was no beneficial effect on preventing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (pooled RR, 0.83; 95%CI [0.50, 1.38]; P = 0.476), shortening the duration of hospital stay (pooled MD, - 0.78; 95%CI [- 1.98, 0.41]; P = 0.199) and improving patient satisfaction (pooled RR, 1.36; 95%CI [0.47, 3.91]; P = 0.570). Begg's test did not reveal any publication bias. Only one RCT reported minimal acupressure-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: Acupressure may have potential favorable or encouraging effect on treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, but strong supportive data are not yet available. Well-designed and large-scale RCTs should be conducted for assessing and confirming the efficacy and safety of acupressure in nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

2023 MASCC/ESMO consensus antiemetic guidelines related to integrative and non-pharmacological therapies.

PURPOSE: Review the literature to propose suggestions or recommendations for controlling nausea and vomiting through integrative and non-pharmacological treatments for the MASCC/ESMO 2023 update of its antiemetic guidelines. METHODS: The authors identified available systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses for 12 integrative therapies, including acupressure, acupuncture, auricular therapy, electrical stimulation of point PC6, ginger use (i.e., Zingiber officinale), guided imagery, hypnosis, inhalation aromatherapy, music therapy, food-based interventions, progressive muscle relaxation, and reflexology. Reviews were assessed for quality through the AMSTAR2 tool. A consensus committee reviewed recommendations as per MASCC/ESMO established processes. RESULTS: Thirty-nine systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses were used. There were major methodological flaws for many of the trials used as the bases for the reviews. No recommendation for ingested ginger could be made because of conflicting evidence. Recommendations were possible for acupuncture/electroacupuncture treatments, food-based interventions, and progressive muscle relaxation training alone or combined with guided imagery. No recommendations could be reached for a number of food-based approaches, inhalation aromatherapy, hypnosis in adults, music therapy, and reflexology. CONCLUSION: While a limited number of suggestions are provided, there is a need for significantly higher quality trials in many of the therapeutic approaches assessed, before stronger recommendations and a wider range of approaches are made.

Evaluation of acupuncture and auriculotherapy in the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and auriculotherapy protocol in relieving chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients compared to the antiemetic protocol. METHOD: Pilot study of a pragmatic two-arm clinical trial: an acupuncture group received systemic acupuncture, auriculotherapy, and antiemetic protocol; a control group used antiemetic protocol. The sample consisted of 42 patients with cancer of the gastrointestinal system or multiple myeloma. The outcome was assessed using the Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Assessment Tool and the patient's diary. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between groups according to the assessment of the patient's diary and the Assessment Tool of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The patients were 60 years old on average and the groups were homogeneous, except for marital status. In the diary, there was no statistical difference between groups and sessions for days of nausea (p = 0.873) and vomiting episodes (p = 0.993). CONCLUSION: The protocol of acupuncture and auriculotherapy as a complementary treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting was ineffective, considering the limitations of the study.

Gastric Electrical Stimulation as a New Treatment Modality for Refractory Nausea and Vomiting with Normal Gastric Emptying.

Nausea and vomiting are cardinal symptoms affecting many patients with delayed or normal gastric emptying. The current therapies are very limited and less than optimal. Therefore, gastrointestinal symptoms persist despite using all the standard approaches for gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, or unexplained nausea and vomiting. It is well established that gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in gastroparesis, but there are essentially no data available that detail the efficacy of GES in symptomatic patients without gastroparesis. We present a unique case of a female patient diagnosed with functional dyspepsia, whose nausea and vomiting which were refractory to all standard therapies were successfully addressed with the implantation of a GES system.

Ear Plaster Therapy as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Gestational Vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are common symptoms that often complicate early pregnancy for many women. While clinical treatments such as fasting, fluid infusion, and nutritional support are conventionally applied to manage NVP, their effectiveness varies. However, traditional ear plaster therapy offers a promising alternative that effectively relieves symptoms and poses no known risk to the development of embryos or fetuses. This therapy is known for its ease of application, cost-effectiveness, and favorable outcomes. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of combining ear plaster therapy with conventional treatments in alleviating symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, surpassing the results achieved with conventional treatment alone. The protocol presented herein describes a method to relieve NVP using round, smooth, and hard cowherb seeds applied to specific ear points. These seeds are gently rubbed onto the surface of the ear, utilizing the principles of acupressure. By stimulating the designated ear points, this procedure aims to regulate the body's energy flow and restore balance, thereby reducing the severity and frequency of NVP. The application of cowherb seeds on specific ear points is a straightforward technique that healthcare professionals can easily implement or self-administered by pregnant women under appropriate guidance. Overall, ear plaster therapy presents a safe, effective, and economical approach for managing gestational vomiting, offering women a potential solution to alleviate their discomfort during pregnancy.

Can music and medicine be effective on anxiety, depression and chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting? (PEGASUS study).

Background: Music and medicine can be used in patients with cancer as a palliative complementary therapy. It is aimed to show the effect of music therapy performed on anxiety, depression, and chemotherapy-related nausea/vomiting. Methods: A total of 62 patients with colon cancer who previously experienced grade 1 or 2 chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting were divided into two groups as intervention and control group based on the addition of music and medicine to infusion chemotherapies and 1:1 randomized. The groups were compared in terms of the effect of music and medicine on anxiety, depression, heart rate, blood pressure, and chemotherapy-related nausea-vomiting. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 19.0. A value of P < 0.05 was found statistically significant. Results: The patients were evaluated in terms of study variables at the beginning and after the completion of a chemotherapy session. As a result, there was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (P = 0.042), diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.44), heart rate (P = 0.046), state and trait sections of the state-trait anxiety inventory scores (P = 0.047 and P = 0.046, respectively), as well as a significant decrease in anxiety degree (P = 0.036) and a significant improvement in chemotherapy-related nausea (P = 0.021) and vomiting (P = 0.038) experience in the intervention group. However, no significant effect of music and medicine on depression was detected (P = 0.218). Conclusion: Although it has not been shown to have an effect on depression, it was concluded that music and medicine with classical music integrated into the chemotherapy session can reduce the degree of nausea/vomiting and anxiety levels.

Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Drug-Refractory Pediatric Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a disabling condition frequently refractory to pharmacologic therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of noninvasive, auricular percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation (PENFS) as prophylactic therapy for pediatric CVS. METHODS: Children 8-18 years with drug-refractory CVS were prospectively enrolled from a tertiary care CVS clinic. Subjects received 6 consecutive weeks of PENFS. CVS severity was quantified by episode frequency and duration score (range 0-25) at baseline and at extended follow-up (4-6 months after end of therapy). Response was classified as ≥50% improvement in either frequency or duration of attacks at extended follow-up. Subjects also completed validated surveys of nausea, disability, and global response. RESULTS: Thirty subjects completed the study. Median (interquartile range, IQR) age was 10.5 (8.5-15.5) years; 60% were female. At follow-up, 80% met criteria for treatment response with a median (IQR) response duration of 113 (61-182) days. The frequency-duration score improved from baseline median (IQR) 12.0 (9.0-16.0) to 3.0 (1.0-6.0) at follow-up, P < 0.0001. Median (IQR) nausea and disability scores decreased from baseline to week 6: 2.1 (1.3-2.7) to 0.9 (0-1.6), P = 0.003 and 47.5 (41.0-53.0) to 38.0 (16.0-51.0), P = 0.001, respectively. At end of therapy, 66% and 55% patients reported global response of at least "moderately better" and "a good deal better," respectively. There were no serious side effects. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests long-term benefits of PENFS for children with CVS. PENFS improves several disabling aspects of CVS, including episode frequency, duration, and functional disability.

Effect of Acupressure at PC6 on Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Nausea and vomiting are among the most common medical problems during pregnancy, affecting 80% of mothers. Objectives: This study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to determine the effect of acupressure applied by a wristband to the pericardium 6 (PC6) point on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Methods: The study population consisted of 74 pregnant women between 6-14 weeks of gestation who were experiencing nausea and vomiting. The study data was collected with personal information from the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis Scale (PUQE). Experimental and control groups were selected by a simple random method. The experimental group wore acupressure wristbands for one week, while the control group did not use any method to alleviate nausea and vomiting. One week later, the PUQE scale was applied to both groups. Results: The acupressure wristbands decreased the nausea and vomiting scores of the pregnant women in the experimental group without statistical significance but did not change the nausea and vomiting scores of the pregnant women in the control group. Conclusion: Acupressure wristbands can be used to prevent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Acupuncture techniques and acupoints used in individuals under chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment of cancer: A systematic review.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the main acupuncture techniques and parameters that have been used in the most varied symptoms of different types of cancer. BACKGROUND: Clinical evidence about the potential effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies to control signs and symptoms associated with cancer or its treatment has been in several studies. Currently, there is already evidence of the use of acupuncture for the treatment of nausea and vomiting, fatigue, dry mouth, anxiety, depression, insomnia and pain. However, many studies lack firm rights or reproducible guidelines for treatment. DESIGN: This study performs a systematic review of clinical trials related to the topic, based on the PRISMA protocol. Thus, a search was carried out in the Scopus, Pubmed and Web of Science databases, covering studies since January 2007. METHODS: Structured and organised according to PICO standards, using keywords ("cancer" OR "malignant tumour" OR "chemotherapy" OR "radiotherapy") AND ("acupuncture" OR "electroacupuncture") AND ("pain" OR "nausea" OR "vomit" OR "fatigue" OR "xerostomia" OR "insomnia" OR "depression" OR "neuropathy"). RESULTS: After the selection and evaluation phase, 23 studies were included and analysed. CONCLUSION: Based on this analysis, it is concluded that acupuncture is safe and there is evidence of the reduction of gastrointestinal symptoms, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, pain, dry mouth, fatigue, insomnia, and improvement of cognitive capacity. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Acupuncture treatments could act by minimising the side effects of conventional treatments and reducing symptoms induced by tumours. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The patients had no direct involvement with the study in question.

Retrospective Outcomes of a New Acupuncture Service at a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Introduction: Among cancer centers, patients' interest in acupuncture is growing, in addition to clinical research in the intervention. Their National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center piloted an acupuncture service. Their aim was to assess whether acupuncture impacted patient self-reported symptoms as delivered clinically and discuss their implementation strategy. Methods: Patients undergoing acupuncture at a comprehensive cancer center from June 2019 to March 2020 were asked to complete a modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) before and after each session. The authors evaluated symptom changes after acupuncture in both outpatient and inpatient settings. A change of ≥1 U, on the 0-10 scale, was considered clinically significant. Results: Three hundred and nine outpatient and 394 inpatient acupuncture sessions were provided to patients at the comprehensive cancer center during this period, of which surveys from 186 outpatient (34 patients) and 124 inpatient (57 patients) sessions were available for analysis. The highest pretreatment symptoms reported by outpatients were neuropathy (5.78), pain (5.58), and tiredness (5.59). Outpatients receiving acupuncture reported clinically significant improvements in pain (ESAS score change of -2.97), neuropathy (-2.68), decreased lack of well-being (-2.60), tiredness (-1.85), nausea (-1.83), anxiety (-1.56), activities of daily living issues (-1.32), depression (-1.23), anorexia (-1.19), insomnia (-1.14), and shortness of breath (-1.14). The most severe pretreatment symptoms reported by inpatients were pain (6.90), insomnia (6.16), and constipation (5.44). Inpatients receiving acupuncture reported clinically significant improvements in anxiety (-3.69), nausea (-3.61), insomnia (-3.26), depression (-2.98), pain (-2.77), neuropathy (-2.68), anorexia (-2.20), constipation (-1.95), and diarrhea (-1.26). Conclusion: Both outpatient and inpatient participants in this pilot acupuncture program reported clinically significant improvements in symptoms after a single acupuncture treatment. Some differences between the outpatient and inpatient settings warrant further investigation.

Effect of Spirituality-Based Palliative Care on Pain, Nausea, Vomiting, and the Quality of Life in Women with Colon Cancer: A Clinical Trial in Southern Iran.

This randomized controlled clinical trial aimed to examine the effect of spirituality-based palliative care on pain, nausea, vomiting, and the quality of life in 80 Iranian colon cancer inpatients from January to June 2020 in southern Iran. Patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group took part in four 120-min sessions while the control group received standard care. Pain, nausea, vomiting, and quality of life were assessed before the intervention and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test. Between-groups differences analysis showed a significant difference in the quality of life scores, pain score, as well as nausea and vomiting scores following the one-month intervention. In conclusion, this group spirituality-based palliative care intervention might be beneficial in improving quality of life and reducing symptoms.

Acupuncture for cancer patients with nausea and vomiting: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting are among the most common adverse effects experienced by cancer patients undergoing treatment worldwide. Their treatment with pharmacologic therapy can often be complicated by medication interactions and other unwanted side effects. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis protocol is to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture therapy for treating nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer. METHODS: Three electronic databases and 2 clinical registry platforms will be searched from inception to May 2022: the MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase via Ovid, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials via the Cochrane Library, the World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and National Institutes of Health Clinical trials.gov. Search terms will include nausea, vomiting, cancer, and acupuncture. Two researchers will independently select studies, extract data and assess the risk of bias. The primary outcome will be the incidence of nausea and/or vomiting or other validated outcome measures. Meta-analysis will be carried out using RevMan V.5.4. The quality of evidence from randomized clinical trials will be evaluated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation System tool. RESULTS: The results will provide a high-quality synthesis of evidence for clinicians in the field of oncology. CONCLUSION: The conclusion is expected to provide evidence to determine whether acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for cancer patients with nausea and vomiting.

Single and Combined Use of Benson Relaxation Technique and Oxygen Therapy on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Gastric Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting are the most common complications of chemotherapy encountered by cancer patients. To alleviate these complications and reduce patients' problems, it is necessary to use complementary methods. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of single and combined use of the Benson relaxation technique and oxygen therapy on chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and retching in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: This is a single-blind, four-arm, 2 × 2 factorial-design randomized clinical trial, in which a total of 100 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled and assigned to four groups of relaxation therapy, oxygen therapy, combined therapy, and control (n = 25 in each group) using simple random allocation. The intervention program included the application of Benson relaxation technique, supplemental oxygen therapy, and a combination of both. The control group merely received routine care. Data were collected using the Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting Form 2 (INV-2). RESULTS: The results of the Kruskal-Wallis H test showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of nausea, vomiting, retching, and acute phase between the four groups (p = 0.001). However, there was a statistically significant difference only in the mean score of retching in this regard for the delayed phase (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Overall, the single use of Benson relaxation technique and the combined use of this technique and oxygen therapy were shown to be more effective in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Safety and Acceptance of Acupuncture and Acupressure in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant.

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is associated with significant morbidity and high symptom burden including mucositis pain, nausea, and vomiting. There is little documentation in the literature regarding acupuncture or acupressure for children undergoing HSCT. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and acceptance of acupuncture and acupressure in children undergoing HSCT in a large tertiary care children's hospital. METHODS: This is a descriptive retrospective study that evaluated 80 admissions to the HSCT unit over a 24-month period. Every child admitted for HSCT was offered acupuncture or acupressure as part of their care. RESULTS: Of 80 patients, 46 were male patients (ages range, 0-32 years; mean, 8 years). Diagnoses include leukemia/lymphoma, sickle cell disease, aplastic anemia, neuroblastoma, and other metabolic, other solid tumor, or other hematologic disorders. Both allogenic and autologous were represented. Sixty-six patients (82.5%) agreed to treatment with acupuncture, acupressure, or both. There were no adverse effects or safety concerns noted. Symptoms addressed by acupuncture or acupressure included pain from mucositis, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, and general wellness or healing. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that acupuncture and acupressure are well accepted by children and their families admitted for HSCT and are safe even when performed in the first 4 weeks following transplant when the patient is likely to have thrombocytopenia. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings suggest that there may be more therapies for patients undergoing HSCT to help with symptom control.