Observation on clinical efficacy of steam medicine cupping therapy in opioid-induced constipation in patients with cancer pain

ZHANG Yuxuan; WU Wenxin; SANG Guanglin; DONG Fangping; LI Jiuli; CHEN Huibing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3806.2025.09.07

Abstract：Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of steam medicine cupping therapy in opioid-induced constipation(OIC)in patients with cancer pain.Methods Seventy cancer pain patients with OIC who were hospitalized in Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from October 2024 to April 2025 were recruited.The patients were divided into control group and observation group by random number table method,with 35 patients in each group.During the treatment process,1 patient dropped out in the control group,and 34 patients were eventually included.During the treatment process,2 patients dropped out in the observation group,and 33 patients were eventually included.The control group received routine nursing care,while the observation group received routine nursing care plus steam medicine cupping therapy.The number of complete spontaneous bowel movements(CSBMs)per week,Bristol Stool Form Scale(BSFS)scores,the frequency of bowel sounds,Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms(PAC-SYM)questionnaire scores,Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life(PAC-QoL)questionnaire scores,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)scores,and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)scores were compared between the two groups to evaluate their clinical efficacy.Results After 1 course of intervention,the CSBMs and BSFS scores in both groups were higher than those before intervention,and CSBMs and BSFS scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group after 1 course of intervention,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).The scores of PAC-SYM questionnaire,PAC-QoL questionnaire,SAS and SDS in both groups after 1 course of intervention were lower than those before intervention,and the scores of PAC-SYM questionnaire,PAC-QoL questionnaire,SAS and SDS in the observation group were lower than those in the control group after 1 course of intervention,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).After each intervention,there was statistically significant difference in the frequency of bowel sounds between the two groups(P＜0.05).No obvious adverse reactions occurred during the therapeutic process.Conclusion Steam medicine cupping therapy can significantly improve OIC and its accompanying symptoms in patients with cancer pain and enhances their quality of life.