P02.69. Self administered acupuncture for treatment of chemotherapy associated nausea: a pilot study

Purpose Acupuncture has gained popularity since the National Institutes of Health 1997 Consensus Statement concluded that acupuncture is an effective anti-emetic for adult postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The most commonly used acupuncture point to control nausea and vomiting is the Pericardium 6 (P6), or Neiguan point. Some evidence suggests that the anti-emetic effects of P6 stimulation by acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting may last about eight hours. Most patients do not have access to a trained acupuncturist at such intervals. The purpose of this pilot study was to learn whether: 1) patients can be taught safe self-administration of acupuncture at P6 during cycles of their chemotherapy regimen and 2) self administered acupuncture reduces the severity of chemotherapy associated nausea and reduces use of anti-nausea medications.