The Effect of Aromatherapy on Anxiety in Patients
Summary & key facts
This randomized trial tested rose water inhalation in 46 hemodialysis patients. One group inhaled rose water for 4 weeks and the other group had no intervention. After 4 weeks the treated group had lower average state and trait anxiety scores, and the reductions were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The study concludes that rose water inhalation reduced anxiety in these patients, but the trial was small and done at a single hospital.
Key facts:
- The trial included 46 hemodialysis patients who were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group.
- Patients in the experimental group put three drops of 25% rose water on an absorbent cotton handkerchief and inhaled it for 15–20 minutes before sleep and 15–20 minutes before dialysis; the intervention lasted 4 weeks.
- Anxiety was measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (40 items; total score range 40–160; higher scores mean more anxiety).
- In the experimental group, mean state anxiety fell from 47.47 ± 7.6 before the intervention to 37.1 ± 6.5 after 4 weeks.
- In the experimental group, mean trait anxiety fell from 49.56 ± 13.8 before the intervention to 42.9 ± 10.1 after 4 weeks.
- The decreases in state and trait anxiety in the experimental group were statistically significant (P < 0.001).
- The control group received no intervention and did not show a significant change (reported P = 0.43).
Abstract
According to the present study, rose water noticeably reduces the anxiety of hemodialysis patients. Therefore, inhalation of rose water can improve the patient's emotional and spiritual condition during hemodialysis treatment.
Topics
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Olfactory and Sensory Function StudiesCategories
Life Sciences Neuroscience Sensory SystemsTags
Alternative medicine Anesthesia Anxiety Aromatherapy Hemodialysis Inhalation Internal medicine Medicine Pathology Physical therapy Psychiatry Randomized controlled trial Trait anxietySummaries and links are for general information and education only. They are not a substitute for reading the original publication or for professional medical, legal, or other advice. Always refer to the linked source for the full study.