Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aims to evaluate the effect of foot reflexology on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients. Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy and can negatively affect patients' comfort and quality of life. Foot reflexology is a non-invasive complementary therapy that involves applying pressure to specific points on the feet. The study will compare patients who receive foot reflexology along with standard care to those who receive standard care alone, to determine whether foot reflexology helps reduce the severity of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy.
Detailed description
This study will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of foot reflexology in reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting among breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Eligible participants will be adult breast cancer patients undergoing scheduled chemotherapy treatment. After enrollment, participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group will receive foot reflexology in addition to standard chemotherapy care, while the control group will receive standard care only. Foot reflexology will be administered by the researcher using a standardized technique. Each session will last approximately 20-30 minutes and will be provided during chemotherapy sessions across multiple chemotherapy cycles with an interval of 21 days. Reflex points associated with nausea, vomiting, relaxation, and digestion will be stimulated using appropriate pressure techniques. Nausea and vomiting will be assessed using a standardized assessment tool before and after the intervention during each chemotherapy cycle. The collected data will be analyzed to compare the severity of nausea and vomiting between the experimental and control groups to determine the effectiveness of foot reflexology as a supportive therapy for managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Interventions
OTHERFoot Reflexology
Foot reflexology is a complementary therapy involving the application of pressure to specific reflex points on the feet associated with nausea, vomiting, relaxation, and digestion. The intervention will be administered by the researcher for 20-30 minutes during chemotherapy sessions using a standardized technique.
Sponsors
University of Health Sciences Lahore
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Masking description
This is an open-label study as blinding of participants and the researcher is not feasible due to the nature of the intervention.
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving foot reflexology in addition to standard care or a control group receiving standard care alone. Both groups will be followed in parallel throughout the study period.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Breast Cancer patients aged \>18 Patients receiving chemotherapy in curative setting
Exclusion criteria
Patients with paraplegia. Patients with skin ulcers or wounds. Patients with psychiatric conditions. Patients with foot fractures and varicose veins. Patients with GIT and Liver Cancer
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Severity of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting | From baseline to end of each chemotherapy cycle (up to four cycles, 21 days apart) | The severity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting will be assessed using the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (RINVR), a validated scale measuring the frequency, severity, and distress of nausea and vomiting. Scores range from low to high, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. Measurements will be recorded before and after the intervention during each chemotherapy cycle. |
Contacts
CONTACTDania A Khan, MSN
CONTACTNusrat Hussain, MSN
STUDY_CHAIRDR. Kausar Bano, MBBS, FCPS
Jinnah Hospital Lahore
Outcome results
None listed