Date of Award
2020
Degree Type
Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review
Degree Name
Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine if ginger is effective at ameliorating chemotherapy induced nausea when used adjunct to standard antiemetics in cancer patients.
STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2015, 2017, and 2018.
DATA SOURCES: Data sources for this review were articles published in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed and Cochrane Databases.
OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: The outcomes measured are ginger’s effect on the incidence of chemotherapy induced nausea, ginger’s effect on the severity of chemotherapy induced nausea, and ginger’s effect on delayed nausea in patients taking chemotherapy.
RESULTS: Two out of three RCTs found no statistically significant difference in nausea ratings when comparing the addition of ginger to the control group. Arslan, M et al. (Clinical J Oncol Nurs. 2015;19(5): E92-E97. doi:10.1188/15.CJON.E92-E97) found that ginger was significantly effective at reducing the severity of chemotherapy induced nausea in breast cancer patients with a with a p-value of <0.0001. Li X, et al. (Integr Cancer Ther. 2018;17(3):747-754. doi: 10.1177/1534735417753541), however, found that ginger was not significantly effective at reducing the incidence of chemotherapy induced nausea, with a p-value of 0.214 and NNT of 14. Bossi P, et al. (Ann Oncol. 2017; 28(10):2547–2551. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdx315) also found that ginger was not effective at reducing delayed nausea in patients taking chemotherapy, with a p-value of 0.379 and NNT of 15.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of ginger to aid in amelioration of chemotherapy induced nausea amongst cancer patients has a hopeful outlook, however, the current studies conducted on the topic are inconclusive, and therefore further research should be done before establishing a definitive conclusion.
Recommended Citation
Brewer, Sara A., "Is Ginger Effective At Ameliorating Chemotherapy Induced Nausea When Used Adjunct To Standard Antiemetics In Cancer Patients?" (2020). PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship. 568.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/pa_systematic_reviews/568