Effects of rose and lavender scents on nurses' job stress: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: A high percentage of nurses working in hospitals suffer from job stress and related psychological problems. This study aimed to examine and compare the effects of aromatherapy using lavender and rose essential oils on nurses' job stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized placebo controlled trial was conducted on 118 eligible nurses who were randomly assigned into three groups of lavender (n = 39), rose (n = 40), and sesame seed as placebo (n = 39). The nurses received lavender and rose scents for two hours a day during four weeks. The Gray-Toft and Anderson's Nursing Stress Scale (NSS) was used to measure job stress before the interventions on the first day, and at the end of the second and fourth weeks. Descriptive and inferential statistics tests were used for data analysis. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences between the groups in job stress before the interventions and at the end of the second week were observed. There were statistically significant differences between the groups at the end of the fourth week (p <0.003). Aromatherapy using rose scent had a positive effect on the nurses' job stress at the end of the fourth week compared to the placebo (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy using rose scent is a safe and non-pharmacologic method that can be used by nurses for improving their own comfort at the workplace. It can reduce nurses' overreliance on medications for relieving the symptoms of job stress.

The effect of aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil on anxiety of cardiac patients in emergency department: A placebo-controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is an unpleasant feeling that increases the myocardial oxygen demand in acute coronary syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of peppermint aromatherapy on anxiety in patients with acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this clinical trial study, 64 patients with acute coronary syndrome were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, a cotton ball was soaked in 100% peppermint essential oil and placed about 20 cm from the patient's nose for 1 h while in the control group, the cotton ball was soaked in water. Anxiety was measured before and after the intervention with The Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory. The data were analyzed in SPSS ver.23 software. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of patients' demographic data. The mean score of trait and state anxiety before the intervention was not significantly different between the two groups. After the intervention, anxiety was significantly lower in the intervention group (37.72 ± 10.41) compared to the control group (42.62 ± 5.99) (P = 0.021). Results indicated a significant decrease in anxiety after the intervention (P < 0.001) in the intervention group. Such a difference was not significant in the control group. CONCLUSION: Peppermint essential oil inhalation significantly reduces anxiety of patients with acute coronary syndrome in emergency department.