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Improvement of Constipation in Leukemia Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Using Sweet Potato.

  • 2016-05
  • Cancer nursing 39(3)
    • Jing-Ying Zou
    • Yi Xu
    • Xiao-Hua Wang
    • Qing Jiang
    • Xia-Ming Zhu

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 63
Population
leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy
Methods
randomized to an intervention group (n = 57) or a control group (n = 63); control group managed by using routine nursing methods, intervention group managed by routine methods plus dietary sweet potato consumption (eating sweet potato 200 g/d, from admission to discharge)
Blinding
Open-label
Duration
from admission to discharge
Funding
Unclear

Background

Leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy commonly develop constipation, which is difficult to treat using routine methods.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine whether sweet potato can alleviate constipation in leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods

Leukemia patients receiving their first chemotherapy were randomized to an intervention group (n = 57) or a control group (n = 63). The control and intervention groups were managed by using routine nursing methods and routine methods plus dietary sweet potato consumption (eating sweet potato 200 g/d, from admission to discharge), respectively. Related data regarding patients' defecation were collected on the second and fifth days after chemotherapy initiation, which included rates of constipation, frequency and duration of purgative usage, constipation status assessed by Rome III criteria, and scores on defecation satisfaction.

Results

On the second day, the rate of constipation and the rate of having first defecation within 24 hours after chemotherapy initiation were significantly improved in the intervention group, but the difference of the defecation satisfaction and "almost no loose stools without purgative use" in Rome III criteria were not significantly changed. On the fifth day, except for "the sensation of anorectal obstruction" and "requirement of manual assistance" in Rome III criteria, other items regarding defecation were significantly improved.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that sweet potato had a positive impact on the prevention of constipation and the defecation satisfaction in leukemia patients receiving their first chemotherapy.

Implications for practice

As sweet potato is inexpensive, abundant, tasty, and easy to prepare, it can be widely used in leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Research Insights

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