The effect of inhalation of peppermint aroma on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography

Background & Aim: Anxiety is one of the most important mental problems in patients who are candidate for coronary angiography, which can have negative physiological and psychological consequences and ultimately lead to the increased hospital stay, increased patient need for analgesics, increased costs and increased incidence of angiographic complications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of aromatherapy on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Methods & Materials: In this randomized clinical trial, 80 patients undergoing coronary angiography referred to the post-cath. ward of Shahid Mohammadi hospital in Bandar Abbas in 2018 were selected and allocated into two groups of intervention and control through the random numbers table. In the intervention group, the eye pads impregnated with 0.2 ml of peppermint oil were used, and in the control group, the pads impregnated with 0.2 ml of placebo were placed on their chest for 20 minutes. Patient’s anxiety levels were recorded before and after the intervention. A demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Spielberger standard questionnaire were used for the data collection. The   data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 24 using the descriptive and inferential statistical methods in accordance with the objectives of the study. Results: The results of data analysis showed that aromatherapy reduced the anxiety of patients in the intervention group, which was significantly different from the control group (P=0.006). Paired t-test also showed that in the intervention group, the mean score of anxiety after the intervention was significantly lower than that of before the intervention (P<0.001), however this difference was not significant in the control group (P=0.90). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, we can conclude that aromatherapy with the inhalation of peppermint aroma has been effective in reducing anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography. It is recommended that nurses use aromatherapy as a non-pharmacological approach to reduce the patients' anxiety. Clinical trial registry: IRCT20190225042844N1