A Quasi-Experimental Study of the Effect of Ginger Tea on Preventing Nausea and Vomiting in Patients With Gynecological Cancers Receiving Cisplatin-Based Regimens

Background Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy experience acute and delayed nausea and vomiting. These side effects obligate the patients to use pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods. The effect of ginger tea as an antiemetic modality on preventing chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting has not been confirmed in previous studies. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effect of ginger tea, when given together with the standard antiemetic regimen, on preventing nausea and vomiting in patients with gynecological cancers receiving cisplatin-based regimens. Methods This study used a quasi-experimental research design with 2 groups (control and intervention groups, 50 participants each). A sociodemographic and medical survey and the Modified Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching were used to collect the data. Descriptive analyses, t test, and χ2 test were used to analyze the data. Results The total mean Modified Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching scores were lower in the intervention group in all measurements compared with the control group, and the differences between the total mean scores for symptom experience, development, and distress between the groups were statistically significant in the third (P <.05), fourth (P <.01), and fifth (P <.05) measurements. No ginger-related side effects were noted in this study. Conclusions Ginger tea reduced the experience, development, and distress of nausea, vomiting, and retching in the intervention group. The use of ginger tea may be recommended for chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based regimens. Implications for Practice Oncology nurses can lead the implementation of ginger tea intervention to prevent chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.