Effect of acupressure on constipation in patients with advanced cancer

Constipation is a common and distressing symptom for patients with advanced cancer. Few reports have focused on the symptoms of constipation in patients with advanced cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a short-term acupressure intervention on patients with advanced cancer.

This study used a non-randomized, pre-post study design to assess the effect of acupressure intervention. A total of 30 patients with advanced cancer were recruited from the hospice unit of a medical center in southern Taiwan. In addition to routine care, patients in the intervention group received an 8-min acupressure treatment daily for 3 consecutive days. Three acupoints were used in this study: Zhongwan (CV12), Guanyuan (CV4), and Tianshu (ST25). Analysis of covariance was used to compare the differences in symptoms of constipation between the two groups, adjusted for baseline values. Effect sizes were calculated using partial eta squared (η²).

Significant improvements in symptoms of constipation (partial η² = 0.40, p < 0.001 for straining during defecation; partial η² = 0.30, p = 0.002 for hard stools; partial η² = 0.42, p < 0.001 for sensation of incomplete evacuation; and partial η² = 0.29, p = 0.002 for sensation of anorectal obstruction), Bristol stool form scale scores (partial η² = 0.40, p < 0.001), comfort levels during defecation (partial η² = 0.82, p < 0.001), and colonic motility (partial η² = 0.85, p < 0.001) were observed in patients receiving acupressure intervention compared with the controls.

Findings from this study indicated that short-term acupressure was effective in alleviating symptoms of constipation among patients with advanced cancer. Further, randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the results.