The Effectiveness of Acupressure for the Control and Management of Chemotherapy-Related Acute and Delayed Nausea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

This trial is registered with the ISRCT register, number ISRCTN87604299.

Acupressure bands do not improve chemotherapy‐induced nausea control in pediatric patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy: A single‐blinded, randomized controlled trial

“…It is also possible that simply wearing wrist bands without an internal stud applying pressure, as in the sham group, provided an antiemetic or sham effect. In response to this concern, investigators have designed 3‐arm trials to include acupressure, sham acupressure, and no bands . We made the pragmatic decision when designing the current trial not to include a third arm because of concerns that patients and families would decline to participate in a trial with a low probability of receiving active treatment.…”

“…Acupressure trials comparing acupressure bands versus sham bands that enrolled both male and female patients and adjusted for chemotherapy emetogenicity, observed no benefit with respect to vomiting or nausea control. 11,13 Patient enrollment into our study was ended abruptly because of a change in the funding model supporting our research base. It is important to consider the impact of discontinuation of patient accrual before reaching the planned sample size of 200.…”

“…Wrist bands—the most common type of acupressure—apply pressure to the P6 acupoint. Studies of acupressure band use for CIN and CIV in adults have reported mixed results, with efficacy observed predominantly among women and patients who have a high expectation of benefit …”

“…Studies of acupressure band use for CIN and CIV in adults have reported mixed results, with efficacy observed predominantly among women and patients who have a high expectation of benefit. [8][9][10][11][12][13] To date, 2 feasibility studies have evaluated acupressure for the control of CIN and CIV in children: 1 evaluated wrist bands, and the other evaluated auricular acupressure. 14,15 Both studies concluded that a future pediatric trial of acupressure was feasible.…”

Contemporary acupressure therapy: Adroit cure for painless recovery of therapeutic ailments

“…P6 point acupressure is less relevant in reducing the post-operative signs in women undergoing breast surgery, children with strabismus surgery as well as appendectomy 134, 244, 245. Acupressure fails to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting 246, 247. Acupressure devices like Sea-Band applied to activate P6 point acupressure together with prophylactic ondensetron is not enough to reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting 248 .…”