Summary of the best evidence for aromatherapy in alleviating chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To search and summarize the best evidence of aromatherapy in alleviating chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, so as to provide reference for nursing staff to implement symptom management.Methods:All evidences on the application of aromatherapy in the relief of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients were searched from the guideline collaboration network, professional association websites, and well-known databases at home and abroad from July 2011 to July 2021. The literature quality evaluation tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included literature, and extracted evidence from the literature that met the quality requirements.Results:Ten articles were included at last, including 2 clinical practice guidelines, 1 clinical decision, 2 expert consensus, 1 evidence to summarize, and 1 system evaluation. A total of 11 best evidences of aromatherapy to relieve chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting were obtained. They were from five aspects intervention population, aromatherapy practitioners, effectiveness, aromatherapy administration route and adverse reactions.Conclusions:The available evidence indicates that either essential oil aroma therapy or oral aroma therapy has a certain efficacy in alleviating chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, and more clinical studies, systematic reviews, and other evidences are still needed to be clarified in the future to promote the normative application of aroma therapy.