Use of Aromatherapy in Conjunction With Physical/Occupational Therapy in an Acute Care Setting

Launched by THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO · Mar 7, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study tests whether smelling essential oils through a small aromatherapy patch can help reduce pain or nausea during physical or occupational therapy (PT/OT) for adults in the hospital. Participants are randomly assigned to three aroma groups (lavender and Mandarin oils if they have pain, or peppermint oil if they have nausea) or to a placebo patch with no oil, plus a standard-care option if someone declines aromatherapy. The patch is designed to release scent without delivering oil through the skin, so the effect comes from smelling the aroma. The researchers are mainly looking to see if aromatherapy helps people complete a 30-minute PT/OT session and whether pain or nausea scores change from before therapy to about 30 minutes after.

Who can join: adults 18 and older who are inpatients at University Health in San Antonio, can provide consent, and can speak English or Spanish. People with certain conditions or circumstances—such as lung problems (asthma, COPD), smell disorders, allergies to the oils, pregnancy, cognitive or communication difficulties, or being in certain units—aren’t eligible. The study plans to enroll about 200 participants and is currently enrolling by invitation, with an expected overall completion around 2026. If you participate, you would wear the patch during your PT/OT sessions and report your pain and nausea before and after, with the results helping researchers determine if aromatherapy offers a benefit.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Inpatients of acute care setting at University Health hospital
• • 2. Provision of a signed and dated informed consent form
• • 3. English or Spanish speaking
• • 4. Male or Female, aged 18 years and older
• • 5. Willing to comply with all study procedures
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Respiratory disorders, e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, pleural effusion
• • 2. Cognitive impairment
• • 3. Unable to communicate
• • 4. Admitted to the closed access unit or to psychiatry
• • 5. Allergic to lavender, mandarin or peppermint oil
• • 6. Diseases that cause olfactory disorders such as: COVID-19, benign growths or polyps, congestion from a cold, sinus infection or allergy flare-up
• • 7. Drugs that may cause loss of the ability to smell e.g., intranasal zinc products, decongestant nose sprays and certain oral drugs such as nifedipine and phenothiazines
• • 8. Pregnant women (self-reported)
• • 9. Prisoner