Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Nursing& Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Explore (NY). 2024 Jan-Feb;20(1):82-88. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.06.006. Epub 2023 Jun 20.
Measures to reduce nurses' fatigue are necessary to improve the patient's care and the nurse's health and well-being. This study investigated the effectiveness of aromatherapy with Pelargonium graveolens (P. graveolens) essential oil on fatigue and sleep quality of nurses working in intensive care units (ICU).
In this double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial, 84 nurses working in the ICU of Covid-19 patients were assigned to two groups of P. graveolens and placebo by the stratified block method. The intervention group inhaled one drop of pure P. graveolens. The placebo group inhaled one drop of pure sunflower oil in three consecutive shifts (morning or evening) and each shift twice for 20 min. Using the Visual Analog Fatigue Scale (VAS-F), fatigue was measured 30 min before the intervention, immediately, and 60 min later. Also, on the morning of the intervention days, sleep quality was assessed with the Verran and Snyder-Halpern (VSH) Sleep Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, version 24. Independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square tests, and MANOVA, were used.
The mean score of fatigue immediately and 60 min after aromatherapy in the P. graveolens group was lower than in the control group (P ˂ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the mean sleep scores of nurses in the P. graveolens group before and after the intervention (P > 0.05).
Inhalation aromatherapy with P. graveolens essential oil can reduce nurses' fatigue in the ICU. The findings of this study can make nurses interested in using aromatherapy as a self-care method.
减轻护士疲劳的措施对于改善患者护理和护士健康和福祉是必要的。本研究调查了使用 Pelargonium graveolens（P. graveolens）精油对 ICU 护士疲劳和睡眠质量的影响。
在这项双盲、随机、对照临床试验中，84 名在新冠病毒患者 ICU 工作的护士采用分层区组法分为 P. graveolens 组和安慰剂组。干预组吸入一滴纯 P. graveolens，安慰剂组在三个连续班次（早晚班）中各吸入一滴纯葵花籽油，每次 20 分钟，共两次。使用视觉模拟疲劳量表（VAS-F）在干预前 30 分钟、立即和 60 分钟测量疲劳。此外，在干预日的早晨，使用 Verran 和 Snyder-Halpern（VSH）睡眠量表评估睡眠质量。使用 SPSS 版本 24 进行数据分析。采用独立 t 检验、Mann-Whitney、卡方检验和 MANOVA 进行数据分析。
P. graveolens 组干预后立即和 60 分钟的疲劳平均评分低于对照组（P<0.05）。P. graveolens 组护士干预前后的平均睡眠评分无显著差异（P>0.05）。
吸入 P. graveolens 精油的芳香疗法可以减轻 ICU 护士的疲劳。本研究的结果可以使护士对使用芳香疗法作为自我保健方法产生兴趣。
