The Effects of Aromatherapy on Pain, Depression, and Life Satisfaction of Arthritis Patients

관절염환자의 동통, 우울 및 삶의 만족도에 대한 아로마 요법

  • Kim, Myung-Ja (College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Nam, Eun-Sook (Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Paik, Seun-In (Rheumatic Center, The Catholic University of Korea, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital)
  • 김명자 (가톨릭대학교 간호대학) ;
  • 남은숙 (강원대학교 의과대학 간호학과) ;
  • 백승인 (가톨릭대학교 강남성모병원 류마티스센터)
  • Published : 2005.01.01

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aromatherapy on pain, depression, and feelings of satisfaction in life of arthritis patients. Method: This study used a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group, pre-and post-test. The sample consisted of 40 patients, enrolled in the Rheumatics Center, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, South Korea. The essential oils used were lavender, marjoram, eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint blended in proportions of 2:1:2:1:1. They were mixed with a carrier oil composed of almond (45%), apricot(45%), and jojoba oil(10%) and they were diluted to 1.5% after blending. The data were analyzed using an 2-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and paired t-test. Result: Aromatherapy significantly decreased both the pain score and the depression score of the experimental group compared with the control group. However, aromatherapy didn't increase the feeling of satisfaction in life of the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusion: The result of this study clearly shows that aromatherapy has major effects on decreasing pain and depression levels. Based on our experiment's findings, we suggest that aromatherapy can be a useful nursing intervention for arthritis patients.

Keywords

References

  1. Arthritis Foundation (1993). People with arthritis can exercise : PACE instructor manual
  2. Battaglia, S. (1995). The complete guide to aromatherapy. Noosa, Pty Ltd
  3. Belza, B. L., Henke C. J., Yelin, E. H., Epstein, W. V., & Gillis, C. L. (1993). Correlates of fatigue in older adults with rheumatoid arthritis. Nurs Res. 42(2), 93-99
  4. Brownfield, A. (1998). Aromatherapy in arthritis : A study. Nur Stand, 13(5), 34-35
  5. Brown, J. S., Rawlinson, M. E., & Hilles, N. C. (1981). Life satisfaction and chronic disease : exploration of theoretical model : Medical Care. 90(11), 1136
  6. Buckle, J. (2003). Clinical aromatherapy, 2nd ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 217-224
  7. Carpenito, L. J. (1993). Nursing diagnosis, 3rd ed. Philadelphia : JB Lippincott Company
  8. Cha, S. H., & Park, K. S. (2001). A study on the effects of inhalation method using bergamot essential oil on stress in middle-aged women. J Chung-ang Nurs, 5(2), 117-124
  9. Choi, I. R. (2004). Effects of aromatherapy massage on pain. physical junction. sleep disturbance and depression in elderly women with osteoarthritis. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Cheonnam National University of Korea, Gwangju
  10. Chung Alternative Medical Institute (2003). Aromatherapy. Seoul : Chung Institute
  11. Cooksley, V. G. (1996). Aromatherapy : A life time guide to healing with aromatherapy. New Jersey : Prentice Hall
  12. Creed, F. (1990). Psychological disorders in rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of Rheumatic Disease. 49, 806-812
  13. Diener, E., Emmonx, R.A., Larser, R.J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. J Personality Assessment. 49(1), 71-75 https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
  14. Eisenberg, D. M., Davis, R. G., & Ettner, S. L. (1998). Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States : 1990-1997. JAMA. 280, 1569-1575 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.280.18.1569
  15. Han, S. H., Noh, Y. J. & Hur, M. H. (2001). Effects of aromatherapy on menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea in college student women. J Korean Acad Adult Nurs. 13(3),420-430
  16. Hawley, D. J., & Wolfe, F. (1988). Anxiety and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis : A prospective study of 400 patients. J Rheumto, 15(6),932-941
  17. Hong, Y. S., Suh, M. J., Kim, K. S., Kim, I. J., Cho, N. O., Choi, H. J., Chung, S. H., & Kim, E. M. (1998). Related factors of the quality of life in stroke patients. Korean Acad Soc Reh Nurs, 1(1), 111-123
  18. Hur, M. H., & Park, M. H. (2003). Effects of aromatherapy on labor process, labor pain, labor stress response and neonatal status of primipara. J Korean Soc Obst & Gynecol, 46(4),776-783
  19. Kim, M. J., Park, H. S., & Song, H. J. (2003). Aromatherapy of patients with chronic diseases. J Korean Acad Soc Home Care Nurs, 10(1), 25-33
  20. Kim, M. K. (2003). The effects of aroma inhalation on middle aged women's depression. stress and menopausal symptom. Master's thesis, Cheonnam National University of Korea, Gwangju
  21. Korean Institute for Health and Social Affairs (1995). The actual condition or health and utilization or medical care of koreans
  22. Lee, Y. J. (2003). The effects of lavender aromatherapy on sleep and depression of elderly. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Chungnam National University of Korea, Daejeon
  23. Lee, Y. S. (2002). The effects of aromathcrapy on the preoperative anxiety of surgical patients. Master's thesis, Kyunghee University of Korea, Seoul
  24. Lemon, K. (2004). An assessment of treating depression and anxiety with aromatherapy. Inter J Aroma, 14(2), 63-69 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijat.2004.04.002
  25. Nam, J. J., Lee, S. H., Gye, H. B., Mun, B. Y., Whang, N. M., & Oh, Y. H. (1998). The level of health and medical care of koreans, Korean Institute for Health and Social Affairs
  26. Park, J. E. & Kim, M. A. (2004). A pilot study on the effects of aroma massage on stroke patients' upper ann pain. Clin Nur Res, 10(1), 184-195
  27. Park, K. S.(2003). The Effects of Aroma and Ultra Sound Therapy on Pain with Occupational Neck and Upper Limb Disorder. Master's thesis, Daejeon University The Graduate School of Health and Sport of Korea, Daejeon
  28. Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D Scale : A self report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psych Meas. 3. 385-401
  29. Suh, M. J., Kim, K. S., Kim, I. J., Noh, K. H., Jung, S. H. & Kim, E. M. (2002). Life stress, Social support and depression of arthritis patients living in a rural town. J Acad Rheu Health. 9(1), 68-81
  30. Woolfson, A., & Hewitt, D. (1992). Intensive aromacare. Inter J Aroma, 4(2), 12-14