Aroma trial: anxiety reduction during office procedural medicine using aromatherapy

Abstract

To determine whether lavender aromatherapy, compared to placebo, during gynecologic (GYN) and urogynecologic (UROGYN) office procedures reduces participants’ post-procedure state anxiety score as measured by the Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). To assess the intervention’s effect on participants’ satisfaction and perceived anxiety assessment and improvement. Women undergoing GYN and UROGYN office procedures who agreed to enrollment were randomized to lavender aromatherapy vs. placebo (water) delivered by a diffuser throughout the procedure. Participants and providers were blinded to study allocation. Participants completed the STAI form Y1 to measure baseline state anxiety levels before and after the procedure. The primary outcome was the change in STAI score. Following the procedure, women reported their satisfaction, patient global of impression of improvement (PGI-I) of procedural anxiety, and the degree to which their anxiety was addressed and helped by the lavender diffuser. Eighty-eight women, primarily Caucasian (69%), with a mean age of 57 years (SD 15), completed the study [44 in the lavender group and 44 in the water group]. Table 1 lists performed procedures. The decline in the STAI score was significantly higher for women assigned to lavender (M = -7.6, SD = 8.0) than for those assigned to water (M = -3.4, SD = 10.0). The mean difference in the delta STAI score for those assigned to lavender versus water was -4.2 (-8.1 to -0.3; p = .03). Further, compared to women assigned to water, those assigned to lavender were more likely to report improved PGI-I for procedural anxiety (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.09 – 6.28; p = .03), to report that their anxiety was addressed (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.02 – 5.58; p = .04) and that the diffuser helped (OR = 6.37, 95% CI: 2.73 – 14.86; p < .001). No difference in complete satisfaction was noted between those who did and did not receive lavender (79.6% versus 75%, respectively; p = 0.61). Diffused lavender aromatherapy during gynecologic and urogynecologic office procedures can lower women’s state anxiety levels and is associated with perceived improvement in procedural related anxiety.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)