Effects of Aroma Inhaling on Blood Pressure, Stress and Sleep Quality in Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated With Chemotherapy

Abstract

The purpose ofthis research was to test the effectiveness of aromatherapy on subjective stress,stress indicator,blood pressure and sleep quality in colorectal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. The subjects were colorectal cancer patients admitted to E University Hospital for chemotherapy (treatment group: 33,non-treatment group: 30).The treatment groupinhaledan aroma oil consisting of a 2:1 lavender and ylang-ylang mix on the second and third days of admission. Regarding data collection, data from the non-treatment group was first collected. Analysis data were measured four times, and t-test and repeated measurement variance analysis were performed.The average age of the subjects was 63.138.49. The comparison of the subjective stress and stress indicator measured twice in the preliminary survey preceding the treatment showed that, for both groups, the measured levels were higher on day two of admission than on the day of admission. The measurement condition during the preliminary survey was, for the day of admission, the time before chemotherapy, and for day two of admission, the time after chemotherapy. Subjective stress showed no time-dependent significant difference (F=.665, p=.575), with no significant difference per group (F=3.035, p=.087); however, for the interaction with the group and time, a significant difference was found (F=6.441, p<.001). SBP showed no time-dependent significant difference (F=.780, p=.507), with no significant difference per group (F=.002, p=.968); however, for the interaction with the group and time, a significant difference was found (F=3.245, p=.023). Sleep quality showed a time-dependent significant difference (F=4.733, p=.003), with a significant difference per group (F=5.611, p=.021) and in the interaction with the group and time (F=4.057, p=.008).The findings showed that aromatherapy was effective for patients receiving chemotherapy. Hence, we can use aromatherapy as the nursing care of the colorectalcancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.