Effects of aroma inhalation on blood pressure, heart rate, pain and quality of sleep among lung cancer patients who underwent pulmonary resection

Abstract

This study examined the effects of aroma inhalation on blood pressure, heart rate, pain and quality of sleep in lung cancer patients with pulmonary resection. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Fifty three patients who underwent pulmonary resection included. Of those, 27 comprised the experimental group, 26 the control group. The experimental group was treated with aroma inhalation: aroma essential oil blended with 2% Roman chamomile and sweet orange oil for 4 days from post operation day. Control-group patients were instructed to inhale sweet almond oil. A vital signs monitor was used to measure patients’ blood pressure and heart rate. The Visual Analogue Scale was used for pain assessment; the Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale was used to measure quality of sleep. Data were analyzed through SPSS WIN 22.0. Significant differences were shown in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, pain and quality of sleep after aroma inhalation in experimental group (p<0.05). Aroma inhalation is an effective nursing intervention for pain alleviation and improvement of sleep quality among pulmonary-resection patients. © Rushing Water Publishers Ltd. 2018.