The effect of lavender essential oil aromatherapy on anxiety and fatigue in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator: randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effect of lavender essential oil aromatherapy on anxiety and fatigue levels in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

DESIGN

A single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Conducted in the cardiology outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Weekly home visits were made to both groups for data collection and follow-up.

SAMPLE

Eighty-six ICD patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 43) or control (n = 43) group.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were randomized weekly to intervention or control weeks, with age and gender balance achieved through weekly matching. The intervention group inhaled lavender essential oil for two minutes every night before bedtime for four weeks. The control group received only routine care.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were collected using a patient identification form, Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory short forms (STAIS-5 and STAIT-5), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for fatigue. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Analyses were performed using SPSS 25 and G*Power.

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between the groups at the beginning. However, at follow-up at weeks 2, 3, and 4, the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in anxiety and fatigue scores, except for the emotional and cognitive PFS subdimensions (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Aromatherapy with lavender oil may help reduce anxiety and fatigue in ICD patients and support the use of complementary care strategies in this population.