Iranian Journal of

The Effect of Sucking Bits of Ice containing mint (mentha) Extract on Nausea and Vomiting Resulted of Chemotherapy in Patients Suffering from Malignant Cancer

Mohammad Haddadi: Master of Science of Nursing Training, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Medical Sciences of Sabzevar University, Sabzevar, Iran

Javad Ganjloo: Educator of Internal Surgical Nursing, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Medical Sciences of Sabzevar University, Sabzevar, Iran

Hamid Reza Hashemifard: Vasei Clinical Oncology Expertise, Training, Research, and Medical Center of Vasei Hospital, Sabzevar, Iran

Yasser Tabarraie: Master of Statistics, Health Departement, Iran

Corresponding Author: Javad Ganjloo, jganj@yahoo.com

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is known as the most prevalent and fatal cancer among women. It is used from various methods to cure included surgery, radiography, and chemotherapy.  Chemotherapy, as a common curing method, results in various physical and mental side effects. Nausea and vomiting are the most prevalent side effects of chemotherapy. Despite of great improvement in anti nausea and vomiting medications, they are the most expanding side effects ever. On the other hand, complementary and alternative medicine is as a basic and less dangerous method. This study has been accomplished to explore the effect of sucking bits of ice containing mint extract on nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy. 

Methods: In this clinical trial, 60 patients with breast cancer under chemotherapy were put into two groups of control and ice contained of mint extract in a random way. In testing group, 30 bits of ice containing mint extract in 1 cc during chemotherapy and 30 cc of tap water were given to control group. Nausea was evaluated based on VAS numerical scale and vomiting was estimated according to the number of incidence. The data was analyzed by SPSS software.    

Results: The findings signified that the average of nausea in intervention and control group was 1.96 and 2.9; respectively indicating a significant difference (P-value: 0.038), While vomiting numbers were 0.233 and 0.266 in intervention and control group indicating to no significant difference (P-value: 0.65).     

Conclusion: According to the study results, ice containing mint extract is of high effect in healing nausea caused by chemotherapy but not on the vomiting.

Introduction: Anxiety, chemotherapy-related nausea, and vomiting are among the most distressing issues associated with cancer treatment. Given the prevalence of these side effects, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of educational-supportive intervention on the levels of anxiety, and the severity of nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients in educational hospitals of Zahedan, Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 70 women with breast cancer who were referred to educational hospitals in Zahedan, Iran, were selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two groups of 35. In the intervention group, the researcher provided necessary training on common patient problems with emphasis on nausea, vomiting, and anxiety through three 45-60-minute sessions using Q&A, face-to-face education, pamphlets, and educational booklets. The Spielberger Anxiety Inventory and Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting questionnaires were collected at the beginning of the study and six weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 26) and the independent t-test.
Results: The results showed that in the intervention group, the difference in mean scores before and after the intervention for anxiety decreased from 29.3 ± 3.23 to 26.5 ± 3.29 (CI95%: [23.47–67.02]), and for nausea and vomiting, the scores decreased from 22.60 ± 14.2 to 11.25 ± 1.63 (CI95%: [4.32–28.34]), which was statistically significant (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Incorporating educational-supportive interventions into care programs can assist nurses and physicians in communicating more effectively with patients, thereby helping them manage anxiety and better control the side effects of their treatment. In addition to statistical significance, the reduction in mean scores indicates a clinically meaningful improvement in symptom severity, suggesting that the intervention had a tangible impact on reducing anxiety and nausea-vomiting in patients.