Scenting serenity: influence of essential-oil vaporization on dental anxiety - a cluster-randomized, controlled, single-blinded study (AROMA_dent).

Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) is known as an immense challenge in oral healthcare, which can result in compromised oral health, pain, and uncomfortable treatment. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of essential-oil vaporization on acute anxiety of patients in dental practices. Four dental practices used five weekly cycles of vaporization with each scent: Orange (Citrus sinensis), Swiss Pine (Pinus cembra), Good Mood (blended essential oils: Citrus sinensis, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus limon, Osmanthus fragrance (5%)), Forest Walk (blended essential oils: Abies grandis, Pinus cembra, Myrtus communis c. t. 1,8-cineol, Abies alba, Citrus paradisi, Abies sibirica, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Vetiveria zizanoides), and water. Acute anxiety was the primary outcome (state-trait-anxiety inventory (STAI-S)). Secondary outcomes were trait anxiety (STAI-T), dental anxiety (Kleinknecht dental fear survey), and pain perception in treatment (numeric rating scale). Across all patients (n = 486), STAI-S was slightly higher in the control group (40.7 ± 11.6) than in the intervention groups (38.4 ± 10.5). Post-hoc analyses revealed that the effect is only robust for the subgroup of female patients (n = 296, p = 0.044). We also conducted a post-hoc additional analysis on a subpopulation with an increased level of STAI-T ≥ 42 (n = 131 patients). For this group the difference in acute anxiety between the control group (51.1 ± 11.9, n = 30) vs. the intervention groups (46.8 ± 9.6, n = 118) was significant (T = 4.39, p = 0.0379). The results of the study indicate a promising potential of essential-oil vaporization to alleviate dental anxiety, particularly in the subgroups of patients with a high level of trait anxiety, and particularly in female patients. The calming effects of the essential-oil vaporization were also highlighted by the anecdotical statements of the dental-practice staff. The anxiety-reducing role of essential-oil vaporization alone and as one part of combined techniques to counter DFA should be further explored using multi-perspective methodological approaches in research.

"Like one part of a puzzle" - individualized aromatherapy for women with gynecological cancers in aftercare: results from a qualitative-focused mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Gynecological cancer(s), including breast cancer patients in aftercare and survivors, need supportive strategies to cope with symptoms that are adapted to their individual needs and circumstances. Aromatherapy has potential to be such strategy, but (qualitative) empirical research taking users' own views into consideration about the potential and challenge of aromatherapy is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to gain insights from individualized aromatherapy as a supportive care treatment, regarding their use and evaluation by women with gynecological cancers in aftercare. METHODS: We conducted a study with a mixed-methods design, focused on qualitative research. Five essential oil products were given to 18 participants to apply individually over a 4-week period. After the intervention, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted. Further, we documented and assessed symptomatic burdens of the women (MYMOP2) before and after intervention quantitatively. RESULTS: Aromatherapy was customized by the participants according to their needs. It showed potential for relief of symptomatic burdens - especially nausea, peripheral neuropathy, pain, and sleep. Additionally, opportunities emerged to indirectly affect symptomatic burdens. These developed out of new coping strategies (e.g., sleep routines) or by combining with existing strategies (e.g., meditation). Furthermore, aromatherapy was successfully used to promote well-being and encourage mindfulness. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated the potential of aromatherapy as a supportive treatment modality that can be used as a kind of toolbox. Challenges, such as individual odor aversions and intolerances, and limitations due to medication or illness should be considered in future aromatherapy research.

Plant Fragrances Are Like Music for Our Senses: A Scoping Review of Aromatherapy in Gynecologic Cancers and Breast Cancer Care.

Introduction: Essential oil (EO) applications via inhalation and/or absorption through the skin-often referred to as aromatherapy-have particular relevance as complementary to cancer treatment and follow-up care. Aromatherapy is of particular interest for controlling symptoms and enhancing the general well-being of people with cancer. This is indicated by the increasing number of empirical studies on this topic. Although numerous reviews have summarized the extensive primary research about aromatherapy and cancer, no review on aromatherapy use targeting women with gynecologic and breast cancers currently exists. Our scoping review aims at giving an overview of the state of research about aromatherapy in this specific target group. By summarizing and describing study characteristics, based on methodological decisions and content, we intend to offer implications for future research, focused on the use of EO in women with gynecologic and breast cancers. Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted, based on the literature, and using the extension of the PRISMA statement for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The databases PubMed and CINHAHL were searched in a multi-stage, iterative process taking the most relevant terms under consideration, given our research interest and Boolean operators. The included studies were analyzed and summarized through (1) a table matrix including categories of interest and (2) qualitative content analysis. Results: One hundred seventy studies were examined, and 10 were included in this review. They show high heterogeneity in how the term aromatherapy is defined, in content, research design, EO used, application, and outcomes. However, all 10 studies exclusively targeted women with breast cancer in different states of cancer treatment. Conclusions: Challenges of research within this field point to the heterogeneous use and classification of the term aromatherapy, the differentiation of the principle of action of EO, the lack of transparency in how EO are reported and described (e.g., botanical names, company, dosage, mixing ratios), and the need to include subjective perceptions. Ten implications for future research based on these challenges are given.

[Patient safety in home care : A review of international recommendations]. / Patientensicherheit in der häuslichen Versorgung ­ Eine Übersichtsarbeit zu internationalen Handlungsempfehlungen.

BACKGROUND: In recent years there has been a growing trend towards nursing care at home in general as well as towards intensive home care being provided by specialized home care services in Germany. However, resulting challenges for patient safety have rarely been considered. Against this background we aimed to explore whether international recommendations for patient safety in home care in general and in intensive home care in particular already exist and how they can stimulate further practice development in Germany. METHODS: A review of online English documents containing recommendations for patient safety in intensive home care was conducted. Available documents were analyzed and compared in terms of their form and content. RESULTS: Overall, a small number of relevant documents could be identified. None of these documents exclusively refer to the intensive home care sector. Despite their differences, however, the analysis of four selected documents showed similarities, e. g., regarding specific topics of patient safety (communication, involvement of patients and their relatives, risk assessment, medication management, qualification). Furthermore, strengths and weaknesses of the documents became apparent: e. g., an explicit understanding of patient safety, a literature-based introduction to safety topics or an adaptation of the recommendations to the specific features of home care were occasionally lacking. CONCLUSIONS: This document analysis provides interesting input to the formal and content-related development of specific recommendations and to practice development in Germany to improve patient safety in home care.

Berlin in Motion: Interprofessional teaching and learning for students in the fields of medicine, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and nursing (INTER-M-E-P-P).

AIM: The Berlin project "Interprofessional teaching and learning in medicine, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and nursing" (INTER-M-E-P-P) pursues the goal of developing and testing interprofessional courses in an exemplary manner, and then implement these into their regular study programs. METHOD: Under the direction of a steering committee of the participating institutions, professions and status groups, interprofessional courses were designed, carried out and evaluated. Specific to this project are the participation of students in the steering committee, and the accompanying of external supervision. The evaluation integrates the perspectives of all project participants, and combines quantitative and qualitative methods. RESULTS: INTER-M-E-P-P established cooperative structures between the participating universities and programs. Three courses were designed, taught and evaluated in an interprofessional manner. The various curricula, organizational patterns and locations of the study paths led to a great need for resources in regard to planning and implementation. This process can be made difficult by any stereotypes or preconceptions inherent to those doing the planning; however, under external supervision, the individual professional viewpoints can still be broadened and enriched. CONCLUSION: A sustainable implementation of interprofessional education into the curricula of health science study programs is currently complicated by barriers such as different geographical locations and differing university regulations concerning study and testing. Implementation will require long-term support at the university as well as at political levels.