PURPOSE: To identify the effects of the aromatherapy on stress of nurses working in operating room. METHODS: The study design was nonequivalent control-group pretest-posttest design. The subjects were 45 nurses working in the operating room. Experimental group were 24 nurses in G Hospital and control group were 21 nurses in U Hospital. All of the subjects were measured of the subjective stress, stress responses and the job stress. For aromatherapy, lavender, bergamot, and ylang were mixed in the ratio of 2:2:1. RESULTS: 1) "The subjective stress of experimental group is lower than that of the control group" was supported(t=-2.70, p=.01). 2) "The stress responses of experimental group is lower than that of the control group" was supported(t=-2.49, p=.01). 3) "The job stress of experimental group is lower than that of the control group" was supported(t=-7.97, p=.00). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that such aroma inhalation method could be effective on stress of nurses working in operating room.
Aromatherapy* ; Inhalation ; Lavandula ; Operating Rooms*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aroma inhalation on nursing students' stress responses and anxiety before their first clinical practice. METHOD: Data were collected during the period from March 5 to March 10, 2007 at K College in a province. There were seventy eight subjects, 35 for the experimental group and 38 for the control group. Aroma oils used were lavender, peppermint and rosemary. Before and after the treatment, the severity of stress and anxiety were evaluated by VAS and a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and chi2-test with the SPSS program. RESULT: The score of subjective stress (VAS) decreased significantly after aroma inhalation (p=.000), but status anxiety was not significantly different between the two groups (p=.649). CONCLUSION: Aroma inhalation can be a useful intervention to reduce nursing student's stress before their first clinical practice.
Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy ; Inhalation* ; Lavandula ; Mentha piperita ; Nursing* ; Oils ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This quasi-experimental study was to explore the effects of back massage with Lavender essence oil on the stress response of the ICU nurses. METHOD: Twenty nurses were selected as an experimental group and twenty nurses were in the control group. Lavender essence oil mixed with Jojova carrier oil was used to massage the neck, shoulder, back, and low back. Massage was done three times a week for 20 minutes for 2 weeks by the massage therapist. The stress response was measured with a subjective stress score, Cortisol and IgA level in saliva. The cortisol level in saliva was analyzed by an radioimmunoassay before and after back massage. The level of IgA in saliva was analyzed by an immunoturbidimeter assay and subjective stress scores was measured by Visual Analogue Scale. The data was analyzed using SPSS 8.0 and the hypotheses were tested by ANCOVA and the Pearson coefficient correlation. RESULT: 1) Score of subjective stress decreased significantly after the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil. 2) Level of Cortisol in saliva did not change significantly after the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil. 3) Level of IgA in saliva increased significantly after the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil. 4) After the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil, there was significant negative correlation between subjective stress and level of IgA in saliva. CONCLUSION: Back massage with Lavender essence oil is an effective intervention to reduce the stress response in the ICU nurses.
Hydrocortisone ; Immunoglobulin A ; Lavandula* ; Massage* ; Neck ; Radioimmunoassay ; Saliva ; Shoulder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of aroma inhalation on fatigue and quality of sleep of postpartum mothers. METHOD: The study design was a non-equivalent control group pre-post design. 51 Postpartum mothers were assigned either to a control group or to an experimental group that was exposed to aromas through inhalation for 6 days. Subjects in the experimental group were instructed to wear a necklace filled with Lavender and Eucalyptus oil from 2: 00 PM to 8: 00 PM every day. Fatigue was measured using the Rhoten Fatigue Scale. Sleep duration, night arousal frequency and sleep satisfaction were used to assess the quality of sleep. RESULT: There was a significant difference in the score of fatigue following the treatment between the experimental and control groups (t=-2.79 p=.00). However, there was no significant difference in sleep duration, frequency of night arousal and sleep satisfaction following aroma inhalation between two groups. CONCLUSION: This intervention appears to be effective in reducing the fatigue in postpartum mothers.
Arousal ; Eucalyptus ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Lavandula ; Mothers* ; Postpartum Period*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of aromatherapy on agitation in patients with dementia using a meta-analysis and systemic literature review. METHODS: The EMBASE, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and other databases were searched up to November 2017. RESULTS: Of 419 publications identified, 12 met inclusion criteria, and 9 studies were used to estimate the effect size of aromatherapy. A total of 837 participants across all studies were included. The commonly applied methods were massage (50%), type of oil lavender (75%), and instrument Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (75%). A medium effect size of aromatherapy on agitation was identified (d=−0.56, I2=65.0%, p=.001). The massage group has lower effect size than the other group (d=−0.98, I2=0.0%, p=.001). CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy appears to be effective in improving agitation in patients with dementia. However, further studies for home-dwelling patients with dementia and with different types of aroma oil should be conducted in the future. In addition, research with well-designed are needed to assess the effects or aromatherapy on agitation.
Aromatherapy ; Dementia ; Dihydroergotamine ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Massage ; Psychomotor Agitation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aromatherapy on the level of anxiety and fatigue in student nurses who were undergoing their first clinical practice. METHOD: A non-equivalent, control group, pretest-posttest design was used. A convenience sample of 42 student nurses were selected. They were assigned to experimental and control groups. The aromatherapy using lavender, geranium and camomile was given to the experimental group for four consecutive days while the control group only rested. RESULT: 1.Anxiety scores for the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th days of clinical practice. 2. Fatigue scores for the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th day of clinical practice. CONCLUSION: The results support the conclusion that aromatherapy using selected essential oils is an effective intervention for relieving anxiety and fatigue in student nurses experiencing their first clinical practice. However differences between aromatherapy and massage were not clear. Further investigation needs to be done.
Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy* ; Chamomile ; Fatigue* ; Geranium ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Massage ; Oils, Volatile

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the improvement and maintenance effects of foot reflexology (FR) on sensations after breast cancer surgery with those of lavender foot bath (LFB). METHODS: Using a single-blind design, both 18 women to receive 20-min FR by trained experts and 14 women to soak feet in 40degrees C foot tub water with 5 drop lavender essential oil, 15-min were intervened every two days. Repeated measures were taken pre 1st-(baseline-4th op. day), pre 3rd-(2nd data), and pre 5th-intervention (3rd data) with following up at 1-week after 5th intervention (4th data). The reliable translated Korean version of Baron's Breast Sensation Assessment Scale was used to assess sensations after breast cancer surgery (SABCS) characterized by prevalence, frequency, severity, and distress. RESULTS: A significant difference between baseline and the 3rd, and a decrease tendency from baseline to the 3rd were observed for the severity and distress in FR and for the prevalence and severity in LFB. A significant or important decrease tendency between the 3rd and the 4th were observed for the severity and distress in FR and for the severity in LFB. CONCLUSION: Iterative FR has the improvement and maintenance effects on the severity and distress while LFB has only those on the severity.
Baths ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Massage ; Pilot Projects ; Prevalence ; Sensation ; Water

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of aroma hand massage on pruritus, fatigue and stress of the patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: This study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Study sample was conveniently recruited from two hospitals(28 for experimental and 30 for control group). The experimental group went through aroma hand massage on hand without AVF for 5 min for 12 times mixed with Lavender, Chamomile and Geranium oils in the ratio of 4 : 4 : 2, which was diluted 3% with sweet almond crrier oil 100 ml. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 12.0. RESULTS: The 1st hypothesis, 'Experimental group who has received aroma hand massage will have lower rate of pruritus than the control group' was accepted(t = -5.084, p = .001). The 2nd hypothesis, 'Experimental group who has received aroma hand massage will have lower rate of fatigue than the control group' was accepted(t = -2.557, p = .015). The 3rd hypothesis, 'Experimental group who has received aroma hand massage will have lower rate of stress than the control group' was accepted(t = -5.537, p = .001). CONCLUSION: The aroma hand massage has shown to be an effective nursing intervention to reduce the pruritus, fatigue and stress among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, the massage is needed to continuously be applied to hemodialysis patients to improve their quality of life.
Aromatherapy ; Chamomile ; Fatigue ; Geranium ; Hand ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Massage ; Oils ; Prunus dulcis ; Pruritus ; Renal Dialysis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma hand massage on Sleep, depression and quality of life in the institutionalized elderly women. METHODS: This study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The data was collected from June 23 to August 10 of 2009. Fifty - Six elderly women were divided into two groups, 27 institutionalized elderly women for the experimental group and 29 institutionalized elderly women for the control group. As for experimental treatment, the experimental group went through aroma hand massage with blended oil-a mixture of Lavender, Bergamot, Chamomile Roman in the ratio of 1 : 1 : 1, which was diluted 2.0% with jojoba carrier oil 20 mL-on each hand for 5 minutes, three times a week during two weeks. Control group went non-treatment. RESULTS: The aroma hand massage experimental group showed more significant differences in the charge of sleep score (t=3.83, p=.00) and depression (t=-3.54, p=.00). CONCLUSION: Aroma hand massage had a positive effect on sleep and depression in Institutionalized elderly women.
Aged ; Chamomile ; Depression ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Massage ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the lavender fragrance on sleep and depression in women college students. METHOD: Forty-two women college students who complained of insomnia were studied during a four-week protocol(control treatment week, 60% lavender fragrance treatment week, washout week, 100% lavender fragrance treatment week). All subjects were in the department of nursing in "K" college and the study was a single blind repeated measurements experiment. For the duration of the study, weekly evaluations of sleep, patterns of sleep disturbance, severity of insomnia scale, self satisfaction with sleep, and severity of depression were performed. RESULT: Among sleep variables, length of time taken to fall asleep, severity of insomnia, and self satisfaction with sleep were improved for the 60%(p=.000, p=.000, p=.000) and 100%(p=.000, p=.000, p=.000) week while the severity of depression was improved only for the 100%(p=.002)week. CONCLUSION: According to the study results, it can be concluded that the lavender fragrance had a beneficial effect on insomnia and depression in women college students. Repeated studies are needed to confirm effective proportions of lavender oil and carrier oil for insomnia and depression.
Students/*psychology ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/*therapy ; *Lavandula ; Humans ; Female ; Depression/*therapy ; *Aromatherapy ; Adult