Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of aroma therapy on anxiety and pain before and after tooth extraction. The subjects in this study were 60 patients who felt severe anxiety and pain due to tooth extraction. The experiment was conducted from January through March, 2004, by organizing an experimental group and a control group with 30 patients each. The experimental group was asked to keep wearing lavender-containing necklaces from two days before tooth extraction to inhale lavender, and no such an action was taken to the control group. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 program to obtain statistical data. and ${\times}2$ test and t-test were implemented. The findings of this study were as follows: 1. Regarding whether or not the experimental and control groups were homogeneous, men outnumbered women, and the largest number of the patients were in their 30s. Those who were married were more than the others who were unmarried in number, and those who lived with their spouses under the same roof together outnumbered the others who didn't, as the rate of the former stood at 65 percent in the experimental group and 86.4 percent in the control group. They expressed high satisfaction at their spouses, since 45 percent of the experimental group and 31 percent of the control group did it, but the difference between them and those who were unsatisfied was insignificant (pE0.347). By occupation, the largest number of people in the experimental group, which numbered 16.7 percent, were self-employed, and lots of patients in the control group were government workers. As for blood type, type A was most prevailing, which recorded 43.3 percent. By religion, 43 percent of the experimental group had no religion, whereas 36.7 percent of the control group were Christian. The most common monthly income ranged from 2 million to 2.5 million won. 2. There was little disparity in past pain experience between the two groups before aroma therapy was applied. The experimental group underwent more pain (6.15) than the control group (5.78), but the difference wasn't significant. The experimental group (90%) experienced more anxiety and fear than the control group(83%), but the difference was insignificant. This fact showed that there was little gap between the two groups in anxiety and fear caused by tooth extraction. Contrary to earlier expectation that pre-anxiety might not be the same. little significant difference was found. 3. After aroma therapy was applied, 50 percent of the experimental group and 23.3 percent of the control group suffered significantly less anxiety and fear about tooth extraction(${\times}2$=4.59, pE.05). And the experimental group exposed to aroma therapy was less nervous(3.0) than the control group(4.39), and the gap between the two was significant (t=13.37, pE.001). Therefore, aroma therapy had a good effect on alleviating their anxiety. During tooth extraction. 73.3 percent of the experimental group and 93.3 percent of the control group felt pain. The former group suffered Significantly less pain(${\times}2$=4.32, PE.05). Concerning the extent of pain, the experimental group(2.53) found it less painful to have their teeth extracted than the control group(5.50), and the gap between the two was significant(t=5.89, PE.05). 4. As to the effect of aroma therapy on alleviating anxiety or fear, the experimental group(33.3%) felt that aroma therapy let them more relieved. Every member of that group was willing to use aroma therapy again in the future, and 86.7 percent of that group perceived that aroma therapy made a difference to dental treatment. The experimental group responded to aroma therapy favorably, as every member of it had an intention to advise others to use that therapy.