This randomized pilot clinical trial studies giving acupuncture in reducing nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Pressing and stimulating nerves at an acupuncture point on the inside of the wrist may help control nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To determine whether transcutaneous acupuncture point stimulation (TAPS) at P6 as an adjuvant treatment to standard antiemetic therapy reduces acute chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting as compared to sham acupuncture point stimulation in children undergoing their first round of highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. ARM I: Patients undergo TAPS at the true acupuncture point (P6) 30 minutes prior to first chemotherapy infusion and then four times a day for 20 minutes every 2 hours at 8am, 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. Patients then crossover to Arm II for the second course of chemotherapy. ARM II: Patients undergo TAPS at a sham non-acupuncture point 30 minutes prior to first chemotherapy infusion and then four times a day for 20 minutes every 2 hours at 8am, 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. Patients then crossover to Arm I for the second course of chemotherapy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE
Undergo TAPS at sham point
Ancillary studies
Undergo TAPS
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States
Number of episodes of vomiting
Time frame: During the first 24 hours of chemotherapy
Severity of nausea as recorded on the visual analogue scale (VAS)
Measured as a continuous variable for the mean episodes of emesis. The mean VAS nausea score will also be measured as a continuous variable. Measured using the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) antiemesis tool.
Time frame: During the first 24 hours of chemotherapy
Number of as needed (PRN) antiemetic medications needed
Time frame: After the first 24 hours of chemotherapy
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