Effect of Agarwood (Aquilaria Sinensis) Inhalation Aromatherapy on Workplace Fatigue and Sleep Quality Among Hospital Employees: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Da-Yeh University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Occupational Stress or Workplace Stress; Sleep Quality; Fatigue

Treatments: Other: Agarwood Aromatherapy Inhalation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07188831

DYU-AGARWOOD-2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

Hospital staff often experience workplace fatigue and poor sleep quality, which can harm their health, reduce job performance, and increase risks to patient safety. Aromatherapy is a simple, non-invasive complementary therapy that may help reduce fatigue and improve sleep. Agarwood (Aquilaria spp.) has calming and relaxing properties, but there is little clinical research on its effectiveness for hospital staff.

This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial will evaluate whether agarwood aromatherapy inhalation can improve fatigue and sleep quality among hospital employees in Taiwan. About 78 participants will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups:

1. Experimental group: Agarwood sachet containing agarwood wood chips and essential oil.
2. Control group: Placebo sachet containing almond oil.

Participants will place the sachet about 60 cm from the nose during sleep for 7 nights. Data will be collected using questionnaires on workplace fatigue and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI). The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Does agarwood aromatherapy reduce workplace fatigue in hospital staff? 2. Does agarwood aromatherapy improve sleep quality compared with placebo?

Findings are expected to provide scientific evidence for using agarwood inhalation as a safe and convenient strategy to improve staff well-being and support a healthier hospital environment.

Enrollment: 78 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• ≥20 years old, hospital employee working ≥30 hrs/week, employed ≥3 months
• Not using sedatives/hypnotics
• Normal olfactory function (verified with coffee/vinegar smell test)
• Clear consciousness, can read and understand Chinese, no major communication barriers
• Not participating in other aromatherapy or relaxation intervention studies

Exclusion criteria

• Major psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression, schizophrenia)
• Malignancy under active radio/chemotherapy
• CNS diseases (e.g., brain tumor)
• History of asthma, fragrance allergy, pregnancy
• Chronic rhinitis, nasal surgery, anosmia
• Permanent night-shift workers (≥ midnight to 5am, as defined by ILO, 1995)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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78 participants in 2 patient groups

Group of agarwood

Experimental group

Description:

Inhalation of agarwood (Aquilaria crassna, "Guangdong green kyara") wood chips + 2 drops agarwood essential oil in sachet, and exposure during sleep for 7-8 hrs/night × 7 nights

Treatment:

Other: Agarwood Aromatherapy Inhalation

Group of sachet

Active Comparator group

Description:

Inhalation of sachet containing diffuser sticks soaked with sweet almond carrier oil (odorless placebo), and same exposure schedule

Treatment:

Other: Agarwood Aromatherapy Inhalation