Effects of Aroma Inhalation Therapy on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and the Autonomic Nervous System in High-risk Pregnant Women

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aroma inhalation therapy on stress, anxiety, depression, and an autonomic nervous system reaction in high-risk hospitalized pregnant women. METHODS: A quasiexperimental study used a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Fifty high-risk hospitalized pregnant women were selected as participants on delivery room and maternity ward at university hospital. Twenty-five were selected for the experimental group while 25 were assigned to a control group. Neroli essential oil was used for aroma therapy and was already identified as not being hazard to pregnant women. It provided emotional stability from previous study. The participants inhaled Neroli 2 minutes, 3 times (9 am to 10 am, 4 pm to 5 pm, just before sleep) a day. A total of 15 sessions were held from the day of the preliminary investigation. Pre and post written survey and measuring an autonomic nervous system reaction were collected from both groups. RESULTS: The data were analyzed by χ2 test, t-test, and paired t-test. There was a statistically significant difference in stress (t=-3.98, p<.001) between the experimental group and the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that aroma inhalation therapy is effective as a nursing intervention for the stress relief of hospitalized high-risk pregnant women.

Effects of Aroma Inhalation on Fatigue and Sleep Quality of Postpartum Mothers / 여성건강간호학회지

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.

A Study on the Effects of Aroma Inhalation Method using Clarysage Essential Oil on Stress in Middle-Aged Women / 여성건강간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Aromatherapy, inhalhtion method using Clarysage essential oil on stress in middle-age women. The study design was a one-group pretest-posttest design. The subject were 44 middle-age women with stress in inhalation method of Clarysage essential oil was 2 drops of oil on tissue at 10, 14, 18, before bed for 2 weeks. The study was carried out from August 1 to September 20, 2002. The scale used in the study was the stress scale of Park, Sun Young(1999). The study data was analyzed by frepuency, percentage and t-test using SPSS Win 10.0 program. Result were as follows : 1.The score of physical stress scale was significantly decresed after use of inhalation of Clarysage essential oil. 2. The score of psychological stress scale was significantly decresed after use of inhalation of Clarysage essential oil. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that inlalation method using Clarysage essential oil is positively supported in stress reduction in middle-aged women.