Page 4
Within REACH
Nursing work related stress in the ICU and Aromatherapy Sandra Hubbard, BSN, RN, TCRN - 2020 Nursing Research Fellowship Background Due to the dynamic nature of their work environments, ICU nurses are at substantial risk of experiencing negative sequelae of anxiety. Nurses with higher resilience and a larger arsenal of coping mechanisms may be better able to cope with work-related stress and may be less likely to experience symptoms of anxiety. One potential coping strategy is aromatherapy. Existing knowledge regarding use of aromatherapy suggests a relationship between aromatherapy and reduced nurse stress and anxiety.1-16 However, the number and quality of studies is limited, supporting the need for further research.7 The purpose of this research study was to explore in ICU registered nurses, what is the effect of an inhaled aromatherapy blend containing lavender, bergamot, sweet orange, and ylang-ylang compared to placebo on perceptions of work-related state anxiety over a 30-day period?” Design This was an IRB approved randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study with a quantitative (experimental) design. Study objectives were the following: Objective 1: Evaluate the effectiveness of an inhaled essential oil blend on state anxiety of ICU nurses versus use of a placebo. Objective 2: Evaluate the relationships between age, gender, years of experience, shift worked, and trait anxiety and state anxiety using regression.
This study used a convenience sample of RNs, 18 years and older, whose primary work locations were select ICUs at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (CRMH) and the ICU at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center (CNRV). Exclusion criteria included self-reported asthma or history of reactive airways, allergies to any components of the selected study aromatherapy blend or placebo - lavender, bergamot, sweet orange, ylang-ylang, normal saline, being pregnant, potentially pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next 90 days or nursing, or a history of skin or respiratory reactions to inhalation of an essential oil. Methods Potential subjects were recruited through email via the secure platform REDCap. After the research coordinator consented potential subjects, a pre-intervention survey consisting of demographic information and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI-A) was completed via REDCap. The study biostatistician randomized the consented subjects to either the placebo or intervention group. To maintain blinding, the research coordinator distributed the aromatherapy delivery devices. The intervention device was a personal wick shaped inhalation device with an aromatherapy blend composed of high-quality essential oils including lavender, bergamot, sweet orange, and ylang-ylang. The placebo device was a personal disk-shaped inhalation device containing normal saline. At the conclusion of the 30-day intervention period, subjects took a post-survey consisting of the same STAI-A and completed a device use questionnaire.
