Effects of Aromatherapy on Patient Satisfaction With Surgical Abortion at Less Than 10 Weeks Gestation

University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Surgical Abortion; Patient Satisfaction; Pain; Anesthesia

Treatments: Other: Placebo oil; Other: Lavender oil.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04969900

21-2561

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators propose a single-site, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of lavender aromatherapy versus placebo for patient satisfaction in adult women having a surgical abortion before 10 weeks and 0 days gestation. The investigators will evaluate whether lavender aromatherapy is an effective adjunct therapy for patient satisfaction during first trimester surgical abortion. The investigators will measure satisfaction using the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale (ISAS). The investigators hypothesize that women receiving lavender aromatherapy will report higher satisfaction scores compared to women receiving placebo.

Prior studies have investigated the use of aromatherapy in laboring patients, in menstruating women, and in general post-operative populations. No investigations have focused on the use of lavender aromatherapy as an adjunct therapy to paracervical block and/or oral narcotics and anxiolytics in outpatient surgical abortion. Our study is novel in investigating patient satisfaction with first trimester surgical abortion using lavender aromatherapy.

The contribution of this proposed research to the literature is significant because current affordable anesthetic adjuncts to opioids and benzodiazepines are limited.

Full description

The investigators propose a single-site, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of lavender aromatherapy versus placebo for patient satisfaction in adult women having a surgical abortion before 10 weeks and 0 days gestation. The investigators will evaluate whether lavender aromatherapy is an effective adjunct therapy for patient satisfaction during first trimester surgical abortion. The investigators will measure satisfaction using the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale (ISAS). The investigators hypothesize that women receiving lavender aromatherapy will report higher satisfaction scores compared to women receiving placebo.

Prior studies have investigated the use of aromatherapy in laboring patients, in menstruating women, and in general post-operative populations. No investigations have focused on the use of lavender aromatherapy as an adjunct therapy to paracervical block and/or oral narcotics and anxiolytics in outpatient surgical abortion. This study is novel in investigating patient satisfaction with first trimester surgical abortion using lavender aromatherapy.

The contribution of this proposed research to the literature is significant because current affordable anesthetic adjuncts to opioids and benzodiazepines are limited.

Enrollment: 144 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Women18 years or older
• Have decide to have a pregnancy termination with no sedation or oral sedation.
• Are less than10 weeks 0 days gestational age with viable pregnancy.
• Agree to being randomized to aromatherapy or placebo

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindications or allergies to ibuprofen, lidocaine, or jojoba oil.
• A non-viable intrauterine pregnancy
• A pregnancy greater than or equal to 10 weeks gestational age.
• Adults who are unable to consent or who are currently incarcerated.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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144 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Placebo - Jojoba Oil (100% organic golden expeller-pressed Simmondsia chinensis)

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Study randomization to lavender aromatherapy or placebo will occur just prior to the initiation of the abortion procedure. A permutated block stratified randomization scheme will be utilized so that equal numbers of participants receiving no sedation and PO sedation will be randomized to lavender aromatherapy or placebo. 1cc of dilute lavender aromatherapy and placebo will be pre-filled in a 5/8 dram mini amber glass bottle provided to the patient. Immediately prior to procedure start (defined as after receiving antibiotic and emptying bladder), participants will be instructed to self-administer the study product. They will bring down their personal cloth mask to chin level and rub the study product within the amber glass bottle on their upper lip and nose (left and right ala, alarfacial grooves, and columella). Participants will be instructed to take 4 deep breaths and then replace their mask over their nose. The patient will then proceed to the procedure.

Treatment:

Other: Placebo oil

Investigational Product - A 10% dilute Lavandula angustifolia - jojoba oil essential oil blend

Active Comparator group

Description:

Study randomization to lavender aromatherapy or placebo will occur just prior to the initiation of the abortion procedure. A permutated block stratified randomization scheme will be utilized so that equal numbers of participants receiving no sedation and PO sedation will be randomized to lavender aromatherapy or placebo. 1cc of dilute lavender aromatherapy and placebo will be pre-filled in a 5/8 dram mini amber glass bottle provided to the patient. Immediately prior to procedure start (defined as after receiving antibiotic and emptying bladder), participants will be instructed to self-administer the study product. They will bring down their personal cloth mask to chin level and rub the study product within the amber glass bottle on their upper lip and nose (left and right ala, alarfacial grooves, and columella). Participants will be instructed to take 4 deep breaths and then replace their mask over their nose. The patient will then proceed to the procedure.

Treatment:

Other: Lavender oil.