Randomized Multicenter Trial of Acupressure in Patients Undergoing Moderately to Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can contribute to chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The use of acupressure is a nonpharmacologic method to counteract general nausea and vomiting.

The primary end point was to determine whether there were any differences in CINV episodes between patients receiving acupressure at two different acupressure points.

Patients (N = 509) were randomized between acupressure at the Pericardium 6 point and the Triple Warmer 5 point. Patients reported data in a structured diary for 10 days and health-related quality of life using a questionnaire on days 1 and 10.

Regardless of group, 70 patients reported having decreased global health status after the first chemotherapy treatment. There was no difference in the occurrence or intensity of CINV between acupressure applied at the two different points. Antiemetic prophylaxis remains the most important method of counteracting CINV.