Evaluating the efficacy of lavender aromatherapy on peripheral venous cannulation pain and anxiety: A prospective, randomized study

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Abstract

Objective

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy on pain, anxiety, and level of satisfaction associated with the peripheral venous cannulation (PVC) in patients undergoing surgery.

Method

One hundred and six patients undergoing surgery were randomized to receive aromatherapy with lavender essential oil (the lavender group) or a placebo (the control group) during PVC. The patients' pain, anxiety, and satisfaction scores were measured.

Results

There was no statistically significantly difference between the groups in terms of demographic data. After cannulation, the pain and anxiety scores (anxiety 2) of the patients in the lavender group were significantly lower than the control group (for p = 0.01 for pain scores; p < 0.001 for anxiety 2 scores). In addition, patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the lavender group than in the control group (p = 0.003).

Conclusion

Lavender aromatherapy had beneficial effects on PVC pain, anxiety, and satisfaction level of patients undergoing surgery.

Introduction

Peripheral intravenous cannulation is a mandatory phase in patients undergoing general or regional anesthesia during surgery. Although it is one of the most common invasive procedures performed by an anesthesiologist, it is often disregarded that it can lead to severe pain, anxiety, and discomfort [1], [2]. However, these unfavorable feelings may cause needle phobia, which could result in the avoidance of receiving medical care [3].

Pain is described as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. The nature of pain is not obvious; it is known that pain consists of physical and psychological factors [4]. Moreover, pain and emotion have been shown to have common linguistic and neurologic pathways [5], [6]. Thus, not surprisingly, several studies have presented information on the linear relationship between anxiety and acute pain [7], [8], [9].

In alternative medicine, aromatherapy is a way to use essential oils, and it is becoming increasingly popular. Research has confirmed the anxiolytic effect of aromatherapy with lavender [10], [11]. However, its analgesic effect is unknown. Some studies that have evaluated pain that arises from surgery failed to identify the positive analgesic effects of lavender [12], [13]. A literature search revealed that only one study [14] has evaluated the effect of aromatherapy with lavender oil on pain and anxiety during needle insertion in healthy volunteers. Nevertheless, there is no data about the effect of aromatherapy with lavender oil on pain in patients under high stress conditions, such as surgery. Thus, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that aromatherapy with lavender oil can decrease pain and anxiety and increase the satisfaction scores of patients undergoing surgery during the placement of a peripheral venous access catheter.

Section snippets

Patients and study design

This prospective, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study was performed during peripheral venous cannulation in patients that underwent surgery from November 2015 to March 2016. Study approval was obtained from the Gaziosmanpasa University Clinical Research Ethics Board (15-KAEK-132, 25/08/2015). After registering at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02592044), and after obtaining written informed patient consent, patients with American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA)

Results

One hundred and fifty patients that were scheduled for elective surgery were assessed for eligibility to participate in the study, and 44 of them were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria, or they declined to participate. A total 106 patients were enrolled in the study; 53 patients were randomized into the lavender group and 53 patients were randomized into the control group. After being enrolled in the study, two patients in the lavender group and three patients in the

Discussion

This study demonstrated that aromatherapy with lavender essential oil has a positive effect on the pain and anxiety levels of patients undergoing elective surgery during peripheral venous cannulation. Moreover, the satisfaction of patients that received aromatherapy with lavender essential oil was significantly improved in the PCR.

Inhalation of lavender essential oil increases blood flow and decreases systolic blood pressure and galvanic skin conduction [16]. Diego et al. [17] investigated the

Conclusion

During peripheral venous access placement, lavender oil aromatherapy could be a beneficial choice for treating pain and anxiety and improving satisfaction in patients undergoing surgery.

Conflict of interest

The authors received no financial support for the study, and they declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank all the nursing staff who participated in this study.

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