Study on Effect of Aromatherapy on Physiological and Psychological Aspect of Patients with Pain

향기요법이 통증환자의 생리적 및 심리적 측면에 미치는 효과

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aromatherapy on pain level, blood pressure, pulse rate, sleep, anxiety and depression of patients with pain. This study used a non equivalent quasi-experimental design. Aromatherapy was the inhalation of blending oils with lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint for 3 weeks. As the estimation for the physiological aspect, the visual analogy scale (VAS) for the pain level, blood pressure and pulse rate were measured. Also, as the estimation for the psychological aspect, Sleep of Snyder-Halpern & Verra, anxiety of Spielbeger and depression of Beck were used. The data were analyzed by SAS program using $x^2$ test, Fisher's exact test, Cronbach ${\alpha}$ and t-test. The results of this study were as follows. Pain level(p=0.001), state anxiety(p=0.018), trait anxiety(p=0.002), and depression(p<0.001) improved significantly in the experimental group. Also, there was significant difference between the experimental group and the control group on the depression(p=0.012). Aromatherapy was effective in physiological and psychological therapy. Also it can be applied in combination with existing Oriental medical therapy.