The Use of Aromatherapy for Symptom Management

• Status: Unknown status
• Trial end date: 1969-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this pilot study is to introduce the use of aromatherapy/essential oils to medical oncology patients at Central DuPage Hospital to assess their perceived effectiveness to relieve symptoms of nausea or vomiting and/or anxiety.

Peppermint oil will be used for nausea/vomiting and lavender oil will be used for anxiety. This study will involve administration of aromatherapy to a convenience sample of patients, who will then be asked to complete a brief questionnaire. The questionnaire will involve a simple likert scale to measure efficacy (in the opinion of the patient) and simple multiple-choice questions to determine patients' likeliness to use aromatherapy again.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Central DuPage Hospital

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult hospitalized medical oncology patients admitted to Central DuPage Hospital.

• Age 18 years or greater.

• Able to understand and speak English.

• Women of non-childbearing potential or with childbearing potential with a negative pregnancy test documented during the hospital stay.

• Able to understand concept of aromatherapy for treatment of distressing symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prisoners.

• Non-English speaking patients.

• Under the age of 18.

• Unable to comprehend the concept of aromatherapy.

• Severe cognitive impairment.

• Not experiencing the symptoms of nausea, vomiting or anxiety.

• Women with child-bearing potential who have not had a negative pregnancy test during the hospital stay.

• Patients with known allergy to lavender or peppermint.