• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.188-195
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of aromatherapy on stress using meta-analysis. Methods: Meta-analysis was done with 21 published studies, and data were analyzed with the SAS 9.1 program. Results: Fifty eight effect size was estimated with data from 21 published studies. Overall mean effect size (ES), and mean effect size of dependence variables according to the type of intervention and subject and according to the total amount of time spent in aromatherapy were estimated. Overall mean effect size of the effects of aromatherapy was .593, and the subjective stress (.983) was most effective in the physiological faculty, followed by mean effect size of cortisol (.648) and pulse (.40). On the other hand, mean effect size of systolic blood pressure (.490) was moderate, and that of diastolic blood pressure (.401) was not large. Mean effect size of elderly (.706) cancer patients was considerable(.337). There were significant differences depending on the subjects. With regards to the types of aromatherapy, the effect size of aroma massage combined with inhalation therapy was .590, and there were no significant differences between the intervention methods. With regards to the time of intervention, $20{\sim}30$ minutes spent in aromatherapy was .730, and there were no significant differences between the times of intervention. The relationship between the effect size and intervention frequency was r=.349 and showed significant difference. Conclusion: This result suggests that aromatherapy is an effective intervention to reduce stress for subjects. Nursing intervention protocol by using aromatherapy should be developed and applied in clinical and community settings. Further studies on the effects of aromatherapy on stress should be done by using meta-analysis.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.18-29
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• 2005

Purpose: Aroma therapy is one modality of alternative medicine. It was well known to have an analgesic, antidepressive and anxiolytic effects. This study is designed to investigate the effect of aroma self hand massage on vital signs, pain, depression, anxiety and stress in breast cancer patients. Methods: 32 female patient over 20 years old were divided into two groups by a non-blinded randomized controlled method. Patient in the aroma group (n=15) massaged their hands twice a day using aroma oil by themselves in their home for 2 weeks. However, those in control group (n=17) had not received my intervention during the study periods. Pain intensity, state anxiety, depression and stress of subjects were evaluated three times (0, 1, 3 weeks) using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, $0{\sim}10cm$), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory Scales (BDIS), Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI revised edition). Also the change of patients' accompanying symptoms after aroma massage were analyzed using a structured questionnaire. Results: Pain Intensity decreased in the aroma group compared with control group (VAS changes $-0.83{\pm}1.01\;vs\;0.38{\pm}0.86$, P=0.005). The numbers of accompanying symptoms (P=0.044), depression score (P=0.001) and anxiety score (P=0.008) were significantly decreased in the aroma group, while in control group they increased after 2 weeks. However, the stress score showed no significant changes in both groups ($0.05{\pm}0.85\;vs\;0.04{\pm}0.20$, P=0.1519). The depression, anxiety and stress score showed negative correlation with compliance of aroma massage, but statistically no significant. The systolic blood pressure was a little increased in aroma group ($4.53{\pm}14.43\;vs\;0.0{\pm}7.22$, P=0.026), but was not significant clinically. Patients in the aroma group complained of several symptoms such as headache (20%), paresthesia (6.75%) and nausea (6.7%). However, there were no drop-out patients for those side effects. Conclusion: Aroma self massage during two weeks in breast cancer patients alleviates the pain intensity, depression and anxiety significantly.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to predict the degree of taking the complementary & alternative therapy in the home care nursing service and provide basic data for the application of it. To accomplish this, degree of general recognition of the complementary & alternative therapy, experiences, degree of concern, applicability of the therapy, and educational need should be studied. This study is a descriptive research survey on the home care nurses working at 73 medical centers out of 125 nationwide who provide hospital based home nursing care. The data was collected from Sep. 20, to Oct. 20, 2004 by ChoiHeyran's questionaries (2002). The data was analyzed by the frequency and the percentage. The results of this study are as follows ; 1. The degree of pre-cognition on the complementary & alternative therapy is very high. Information about the therapy was mostly obtained through medias. Home care nurses understand that he desirable treatment is to practice medical treatment and complementary & alternative therapy simultaneously. While 50% of them have already practiced complementary & alternative therapy among their patients. The most commonly used therapy is Acupressure. And Home care nurses have open and positive attitudes about the complementary & alternative therapy as to answer they aye ready to recommend it to their patients. 2. Over half of the Home care nurses met patients taking complementary & alternative therapy. 94.5% of them think scientific diagnosis on the effect of the therapy. advice from the doctor. and the special working staff is required to apply it on to the home care nursing. 3. 68.5% of the Home care nurses have taken education on the therapy through general comprehensive instructions and supplementary. Most of them want to have a opportunity education on the therapy because they want to provide comprehensive nursing and diversified nursing service. The preferred educations are Hand acupuncture, Acupressure & Massage and Aromatherapy, in that order. Based on the above results, the followings are recommended. 1. A study that stipulates the types, applications, and efficiency assessment of the complementary & alternative therapy practiced by Home care nurses in the home care nursing care procedure. And systematic and scientific nursing intervention be developed.