The effect of lavender aromatherapy on well-being in hemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial

Hemodialysis patients experience debilitation in spite of the improvement of dialysis techniques. Impaired functioning, well-being and quality of life in these patients are of a great concern. The current study is intended to examine the effects of lavender essential oil on well-being in hemodialysis patients. This randomized clinical trial was conducted on thirty hemodialysis patients. In  experimental group a cotton ball soaked in two drops of lavender essence, diluted with sweet almond oil, at concentrations of 10% ( week 1), 20% ( week 2), 30% ( week 3), 40% ( week 4) and 50% ( week 5) was to be pinned on the patients' collar for five consecutive weeks. Patients were asked to breathe normally for 20 minutes. The control group received only routine nursing care. The perceived sense of well-being was measured in both groups at the end of each week using a visual analog scale. The mean age of patients was 58.9±14.31 years for the experimental group and 53.03±15.84 years for the control group. Hypertension was reported to be the most common underlying disease in both groups. The results showed that the mean of well-being differed significantly between before the intervention and four and five weeks after the intervention in the experimental group. Inhalation aromatherapy with lavender essence 40% and 50% seems to have a positive effect on the perceived sense of well-being in hemodialysis patients while lower concentrations of 10%, 20% and 30% do not appear to have the same effect.