Effect of progressive muscle relaxation technique versus acupressure on chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in leukemic children

Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of therapy for most patients with leukaemia. It is often accompanied by a number of unwanted side effects, the most prevalent of which is nausea and vomiting. Despite use of antiemetics the incidence chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting is greater than 50% even after antiemetic prophylaxis. Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique (PMRT) and acupressure help to reduce the severity, frequency and duration of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. This study aimed to compare the effect of progressive muscle relaxation technique versus acupressure on chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in leukemic children. The study sample comprised 90 children's of age 7-18 years, diagnosed as Acute Lymphoblast leukaemia (ALL), free from other chronic diseases. They were equally divided into three groups. The first study group who received progressive muscle relaxation technique, the second study group who received acupressure technique at P6, St 36 and Lv 3 acupoints and the third studied group received routine hospital care only (control group). Three tools were used to collect the required data: Medical assessment sheet, Rodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting Form 2 (INVR) and Behavioural relaxation self rating scale. The main yielded results indicated that the total anticipatory nausea and vomiting was experienced significantly less often in children performing the progressive muscle relaxation technique than in children within acupressure group and control group. While the mean value of total acute and delayed nausea and vomiting experience which occurred during the first day after chemotherapy administration were lower in children within acupressure group than in children in both progressive muscle relaxation technique group and control group. The study recommended that acupressure and progressive muscle relaxation technique must be included in the chemotherapy protocol of management of leukemic children.