Effect of Nei Guan Acupressure Point as Adjuvant Therapy on Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea-Vomiting in School-Age Children with Cancer

Abstract

Effect of Nei Guan Acupressure Point as Adjuvant Therapy on Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea-Vomiting in School-Age Children with Cancer Triliana Purwadesi Yuliar1 , Susi Susanah2 , Ikeu Nurhidayah3 1,3Faculty of Nursing Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia 2 Pediatric In Patient Unit, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia Corresponding Email : triliana_py@yahoo.co.id Submitted: 01-09-2018 Accepted: 15-04-2019 Published: 28-04-2019 Abstract Chemotherapy as a pediatric cancer treatment has nausea and vomiting side effects. Nausea and vomiting in school-age children with cancer can lead to nutritional, emotional, playing, and school function disorders, decreasing the quality of life in children. An adjuvant therapy that can decrease chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is acupressure which is non-invasive and safe. Nei Guan acupressure point uses pressure technique on the wrist. This study was conducted to determine effects of Nei Guan acupressure on nausea and vomiting due to highly emetogenic chemotherapy in school-age children with cancer. The study design was quasi-experimental through a pre-post test design study approach, with single-blind control. Thirty respondents obtained from the average calculation of two population hypothesis test, were divided into a control and intervention group comprising 15 people respectively. Both groups got the same antiemetic. Measurement of nausea was performed three times during the study using the Pediatric Nausea Assessment Tools (PeNAT), while vomiting intervals were documented for every vomiting and retching. Data analysis used the Mann Whitney and independent t-test. The analysis result in the control group showed that the average nausea value tended to increase and the vomiting interval was faster than in the intervention group. In conclusion, Nei Guan acupressure affects nausea and vomiting due to highly emetogenic chemotherapy in school-aged children with cancer although it is not statistically significant (p-value> 0.05). Nurses are expected to monitor ongoing nausea and vomiting, and consider acupressure as adjuvant therapy, besides providing pharmacological treatment to reduce nausea and vomiting. Keywords: Acupressure, chemotherapy, nausea, school-age children, vomiting