The effect of lavender essential oil aromatherapy on anxiety and fatigue in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator: randomized controlled trial.
- 2025-09
- Explore (New York, N.Y.) 21(5)
- Sebiha Aktaş Us
- Sultan Taşcı
- Abdullah Orhan Demirtaş
- PubMed: 40795547
- DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103233
Study Design
- Type
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- Sample size
- n = 43
- Population
- 86 ICD patients
- Methods
- Single-blind, randomized controlled trial; intervention group inhaled lavender essential oil for two minutes every night before bedtime for four weeks; control group received routine care.
- Blinding
- Single-blind
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Funding
- Unclear
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the effect of lavender essential oil aromatherapy on anxiety and fatigue levels in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).Design
A single-blind, randomized controlled trial.Setting
Conducted in the cardiology outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Weekly home visits were made to both groups for data collection and follow-up.Sample
Eighty-six ICD patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 43) or control (n = 43) group.Interventions
Participants were randomized weekly to intervention or control weeks, with age and gender balance achieved through weekly matching. The intervention group inhaled lavender essential oil for two minutes every night before bedtime for four weeks. The control group received only routine care.Measurements
Data were collected using a patient identification form, Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory short forms (STAIS-5 and STAIT-5), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for fatigue. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Analyses were performed using SPSS 25 and G*Power.Results
No significant difference was found between the groups at the beginning. However, at follow-up at weeks 2, 3, and 4, the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in anxiety and fatigue scores, except for the emotional and cognitive PFS subdimensions (p<0.05).Conclusion
Aromatherapy with lavender oil may help reduce anxiety and fatigue in ICD patients and support the use of complementary care strategies in this population.Research Insights
at follow-up at weeks 2, 3, and 4, the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in anxiety and fatigue scores... (p<0.05)
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
- Dose
- inhalation for two minutes every night before bedtime
except for the emotional and cognitive PFS subdimensions (p<0.05)
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- inhalation for two minutes every night before bedtime
except for the emotional and cognitive PFS subdimensions (p<0.05)
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- inhalation for two minutes every night before bedtime
at follow-up at weeks 2, 3, and 4, the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in anxiety and fatigue scores... (p<0.05)
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
- Dose
- inhalation for two minutes every night before bedtime