The Effectiveness of Non –pharmacological Interventions on Nausea and Vomiting Caused by Chemotherapy in Women with Breast Cancer.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Chemotherapy has been considered as basic method for curing cancer. In spite of all its advantages, it also has side effects the most important of which are vomiting and nausea. Concerning the ease of using non –pharmacological interventions including music therapy and semi –flower position, lack of side effects, little energy consumption by the patient and its application by the patient without others' assistance, the method can be used in the direction of boosting life quality of the women inflicted by breast cancer in hospitals, clinics and oncological centers. Methods: The present study is a clinical case study. The study population includes women with breast cancer with the age of 20 to 60 years old with three different treatment methods of cyclophosphamide 5, fluorouracil and Adriamycin. To collect data a questionnaire of personal and social background was used and to determine nausea strength and the number of vomiting, the visual analogue scale (VAS) was used. The patients were randomly divided into three groups of music therapy, semi –flower position and non –intervention groups consisting of 30 persons in each. The strength of nausea and the number of vomiting before, during and 24, 16 and 8 hours after chemotherapy were assessed. The findings: The mean of nausea strength of 6 chemotherapy periods in the non –interventions methods was 14.44, in the music therapy method; it was 6.73 and in the semi –flower position group it was 5.68. The mean of number of vomiting in the non –interventions method was 11, in the music therapy method; it was 4.42 and in the semi –flower position group it was 4.8. Discussion and Conclusion: The non –medical interventions in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy causes nausea and vomiting to lessen.