Abstract

  Introduction: Nausea and vomiting, are the most prevalent chemotherapy induced side effects, acupressure is one of the methods of non-pharmacologic approach which used for reducing nausea and vomiting. this study was carried out to investigate the effect of acupressure on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (SINV) in School age children with ALL.

  Methods: This research was a randomized controlled clinical trial study. 120 school age child randomly divided to experimental and placebo groups. the subject's intensity of nausea was measured by Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). Then the intervention (finger acupressure) was applied on P6 (true points) in the experimental group, and on SI3 (sham points) in the placebo group. We evaluated the symptoms of nausea intensity immediately and one hour after the intervention. Then the variable of Nausea and Vomiting was measured at 12 hours after intervention by the instruments of Adapted Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting for Pediatrics by Child (ARINVc).

  Results: the mean score of nausea intensity immediately and one hour later in experimental group (P=0/02), (P≤0/001)was lower than the placebo group. Whereas there was no significant difference between the experimental and placebo groups regarding nausea/vomiting rate (12 hour after the intervention, (P =0/064).

  Conclusion: The result showed that, applying one time acupressure leads to reducing the intensity of nausea one hour after the intervention in the experimental group. Therefore, acupressure should be recommended as an effective, non-pharmacologic method for CINV control.