Effect of Acupressure on Frequency and Severity of Nausea and Vomiting among Leukemic Children Undergoing Chemotherapy

Abstract
Background: Acupressure is one of non-pharmacological techniques that can control chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting among children with leukemia.
Aim of the Study: The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of acupressure on frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting among leukemic children undergoing chemotherapy.
Subjects and Methods: Quasi-experimental research design was utilized for the current study.
Setting: The current study was conducted at national Cancer Institute and sixth floor of Dar Essalam Hospital which affiliated to Cairo-University Hospitals.
Sample: A convenience sample was consisted of sixty school age children with leukemia divided into two equal half to acupressure and control group. The required data was collected by using four tools including personal data ques-tionnaire sheet, nausea assessment sheet, vomiting assessment sheet and acupressure observational checklist.
Results: The current study revealed that frequency and severity of acute and delayed chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting significantly decreased after application of acupressure technique. More than half of school age children having leukemia were less than nine years and male gender. There were statistically significant relationships between level of caregivers' education and with severity of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting. There were positive correlations between improvement of nausea and vomiting as well as improvement of delayed symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
Conclusion: The current study concluded that there was a positive effect of acupressure on decreasing frequency and severity of acute and delayed chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting among school age children with leukemia.
Recommendations: The current study recommended that acupressure technique should be included in the chemotherapy protocol; children and their caregivers should teach the tech-nique of acupressure before beginning of chemotherapy sessions.