Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Constipation in Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Control Trial
Item
Title
Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Constipation in Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Control Trial
Journal Publication
Date
2018
volume
40(1)
pages
67-83
Research Type
RCT
Keywords
Abstract
The purpose was to examine the effects of auricular acupressure to relieve constipation in patients with breast cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy. Participants were 52 patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy at E University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, randomized into two groups of equal size. For the experimental group, auricular acupressure was applied to seven auricular acupoints for 6 weeks using vaccaria seeds, whereas the control group received the usual care. Constipation-assessment scores of the experimental group were significantly lower compared with the control group ( p < .001). Stool-form scores of the experimental group were significantly higher compared with the control group ( p = .003). Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life scores of the experimental group were significantly lower compared with the control group ( p < .001). Auricular acupressure was effective at relieving constipation in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. Auricular acupressure was also a safe and acceptable nursing intervention.
doi
10.1177/0193945916680362
pmid
PMID:27903827
View on Pubmed
Language
English
Number of Participants
52