Abstract:

Cancer is an important health problem with an increasing prevalence all over the world. Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used methods in cancer treatment, that can cause serious symptoms and have a negative impact on quality of life. Nausea and vomiting are the most common and disturbing symptoms. Recently, symptoms that cannot be completely eliminated by pharmacological treatments have been managed using integrative medicine methods. Acupressure is one of the integrative methods that used to increase sleep quality, relieve pain due to birth and cancer, reduce fatigue, depression and anxiety, and relieve nausea and vomiting. In this review, acupressure, one of the integrative methods used in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting symptoms in cancer patients, is discussed and it is aimed to inform nurses about acupressure application. Although the effect of acupressure on nausea and vomiting has not been fully explained, it is thought to reduce nausea and vomiting by increasing the release of neurohormones and neurotransmitters as a result of stimulation of acupressure points and by providing regulation of blood circulation. There are many studies in the literature investigating the effectiveness of acupressure in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Nurses should question whether they use integrative methods when evaluating the needs of patients, and should inform patients and their relatives about the benefits and risks of these methods. Although acupressure is an easily applicable method, studies show that many nurses are not knowledgeable about this subject and therefore acupressure is not used frequently in clinics.

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