Effect of aromatherapy with lavender and damask rose extracts on anxiety in endoscopy patients: a randomised trial

Background: The endoscopy procedure may cause anxiety. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effects of aromatherapy comparing lavender oil and rose damask oil on relieving the anxiety of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy patients. Methods: 105 subjects were randomly allocated into three groups of aromatherapies: the lavender essential oil group; aromatherapy with rose damask essential oil group; and the control group. The data collection tool used was the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). In each experimental group, subjects inhaled two drops of lavender or rose damask essential oil. Findings: Results showed that after the intervention, there was a significant statistical difference in the mean anxiety level of the three groups (P=0.0001). The results demonstrated less anxiety after inhaling damask rose oil than lavender, but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.62). Conclusions: The findings confirmed the positive effect of aromatherapy with damask rose and lavender extract oils on reducing the anxiety of patients before an endoscopy. Since complementary medicine is increasingly used in nursing care, aromatherapy can be applied as a supplementary method to alleviate anxiety in patients.