Clinical Aromatherapy
One of the most important responsibilities of nurses is to evaluate and manage the symptoms of patients in hospitals. The most important of these symptoms are pain, stomach problems and anxiety. Especially PONV (post-operative nausea) due to certain medications or treatments is a problem experienced by millions of people every year. Anxiety is common in most different patient groups receiving inpatient treatment. Pharmacological methods that have been used for a long time to prevent pain, PONV and anxiety have both negative side effects and often require medication and hospitalization. In addition, the concept of "opioid addiction" due to the "opioid" substance found in these drugs is a growing problem. Sometimes patients continue to experience pain despite pharmacological treatment. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has emphasized the support of non-pharmacological strategies in addition to standard pain care since 2015. The use of aromatherapy among these methods shows that it is a promising support with its effects. Clinical aromatherapy is the controlled use of essential oils obtained from aromatic plants in a clinical setting. Thus, it supports the general well-being of patients during their stay in the hospital and supports the improvement of existing symptoms in a natural way. Allina Health, a non-profit healthcare organization in the USA, has made aromatherapy a part of holistic nursing care by creating an aromatherapy program for its nurses. At the same time, when a large number of nurses applied aromatherapy to patients receiving inpatient treatment in the hospital environment, they began to investigate its effects on symptoms such as pain, PONV and anxiety. The participants of the study consisted of patients over the age of 18 who were receiving inpatient treatment in hospitals and clinics affiliated with Allina Health. Ginger, lavender, tangerine and sweet marjoram essential oils and various combinations of these were used in aromatherapy. A large-scale study was conducted that included both inhalation (breathing) and topical (massage) applications. The number of sessions the participants received varied according to the length of their hospital stay. The results of the study showed that aromatherapy is a highly effective treatment in improving many symptoms when used in addition to pharmacological methods. A statistically significant decrease was observed in the pain, nausea and anxiety scores of the patients after receiving aromatherapy. This study proved the effectiveness of aromatherapy on pain management, postoperative nausea, and anxiety symptoms, and was an effective aid for nursing care. In summary, aromatherapy, a therapeutic modality, provided a versatile and broad healing that could be effective in different patient demographics as part of holistic nursing.
SOURCE
The effectiveness of nurse-delivered aromatherapy in an acute care setting, Complementary
Therapies in Medicine, 2016
