Effect of Geranium Inhalation Aromatherapy on Pain and Blood Pressure in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chemotherapy Side Effects; Chemotherapy Induced Pain; Blood Pressure Changes in Cancer Patients; Cancer

Treatments: Other: Geranium Inhalation Aromatherapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07292844

UMS-GERANIUM-RCT2022

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effect of geranium inhalation aromatherapy on pain and blood pressure among Indonesian cancer patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy. A total of 90 participants under the age of 65 with normal BMI will be enrolled and randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive geranium essential oil inhalation using three drops applied to cotton and inhaled for 15 minutes during chemotherapy sessions, while the control group will receive usual care without aromatherapy. Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and blood pressure will be recorded using a standard digital blood pressure monitor before and after the intervention. This study aims to evaluate whether geranium aromatherapy can be feasibly implemented as a complementary supportive therapy during chemotherapy. Study Started Date after January 18, 2017

Full description

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy frequently experience a range of physical and psychological side effects, including pain, fatigue, nausea, sleep disturbances, and fluctuations in blood pressure. Complementary approaches such as aromatherapy are increasingly explored as supportive interventions due to their accessibility, safety, and low cost. Geranium essential oil contains bioactive components such as geraniol and citronellol, which have been noted for potential analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and relaxing properties. This study utilizes a randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the effect of geranium inhalation aromatherapy on pain and blood pressure among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at a public hospital in Surakarta, Indonesia. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of Dr. Moewardi General Hospital prior to participant recruitment.

Ninety patients meeting the inclusion criteria (age < 65 years, normal BMI, undergoing chemotherapy regimen 1, and providing informed consent) will be selected using simple random sampling. Participants will be randomly assigned into two equal groups: an intervention group receiving geranium inhalation aromatherapy and a control group receiving standard care without aromatherapy. The intervention consists of applying three drops of geranium essential oil onto cotton, which patients will inhale for 15 minutes during their chemotherapy sessions, conducted twice per month. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include demographic characteristics, pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and blood pressure recorded using an OMRON digital blood pressure monitor. Data analysis will involve paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and chi-square tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. This study is designed to explore potential physiological mechanisms related to aromatherapy, which may include olfactory system stimulation, relaxation responses, modulation of endogenous hormones, and autonomic regulation. The study also acknowledges possible limitations such as sample size, intervention duration, and the absence of biomarker assessments.

Enrollment: 90 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion:

1. Cancer patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy (regimen 1 / series 1)
2. Age less than 65 years
3. Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 22.9 kg/m².
4. Willing to participate and able to provide informed consent.

Exlusion:

1. Patients with conditions affecting the sense of smell (e.g., severe nasal obstruction or anosmia).
2. Patients with known allergies to essential oils or plant-based aromatherapy products.
3. Patients experiencing acute medical emergencies or unstable hemodynamic conditions during chemotherapy.
4. Patients who withdraw consent at any stage of the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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90 participants in 2 patient groups

Geranium Inhalation Aromatherapy

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm received geranium inhalation aromatherapy during their chemotherapy session. Three drops of geranium essential oil were placed on a piece of cotton and inhaled for 15 minutes during chemotherapy, administered twice per month. Pain and blood pressure were assessed before and after the intervention

Treatment:

Other: Geranium Inhalation Aromatherapy

Usual Care / No Aromatherapy

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this arm received standard chemotherapy care without any aromatherapy intervention. They underwent the same assessment procedures as the intervention group, including pre- and post-treatment measurements of pain and blood pressure, but no essential oil was administered