[ effect of inhalation of matricaria chamomile essential oil on patients' anxiety before esophagogastroduodenoscopy]

Background: One of the most stressful situations in clinical environments is exposure to invasive diagnostic methods, one of which is the endoscopy of the digestive tract. Endoscopy related anxiety can prevent achieving optimal results. Aromatherapy is one of complementary treatments that can reduce anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inhalation of matricaria chamomile essential oil on the anxiety before Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

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Materials and Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial that was carried out in May 2014 among patients referred to the Endoscopy Department of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad. The population of the study included 152 participants who were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Anxiety was measured by using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI] questionnaire. Then for 20 minutes, the intervention group inhaled matricaria chamomile essential oil and the control group inhaled placebo [sesame oil]. 10 minutes after inhalation, anxiety was again measured and compared between the groups. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 21

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Results: The mean age of the participants was 42.05 +/- 4.5 years and 41.33% of them were male. Mean level of anxiety after inhalation in the intervention group was 35.89 +/- 8.40 and in the control group was 39.88 +/- 8.40, which decreased in both groups but in the intervention group the decrease was significant

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Conclusion: The findings showed that matricaria chamomile essential oil inhalation was effective in decreasing the anxiety of patients who were candidate for endoscopy. It is recommended to reduce anxiety in stressful situations