Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of Inhalation Aromatherapy for Patients Undergoing Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) (Aroma-CINV)

Singapore Health Services (SingHealth)

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)

Treatments: Other: Aromatherapy inhaler (placebo); Other: Aromatherapy inhaler

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07209501

2024-3551

2024AMII-Aug03 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether aromatherapy inhaler sticks can reduce nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy as part of their stem cell transplant treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Can aromatherapy inhaler sticks be practically used by patients undergoing stem cell transplant (feasibility)?
• Do patients find aromatherapy inhaler sticks acceptable to use during their treatment?
• How effective are aromatherapy inhaler sticks at reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting?
• What are patients' experiences when using aromatherapy during stem cell transplant?

Researchers will compare patients using aromatherapy inhaler sticks with essential oils to patients using inhaler sticks with only jojoba oil (placebo) to see if the essential oils provide additional benefits for reducing nausea and vomiting.

Participants will:

• Use their assigned inhaler stick every four hours when awake and whenever they feel nauseous
• Hold the inhaler stick a finger's length from their nostrils and inhale through one nostril at a time
• Use the inhaler stick for no more than 5 minutes per session
• Begin using the inhaler on the day of chemotherapy and continue until five days after chemotherapy completion (total of six days)
• Receive standard care for nausea and vomiting alongside the inhaler stick
• Complete study journals to record their experiences This is a single-blinded study, meaning participants will not know whether they received the aromatherapy or placebo inhaler stick.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 99 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• At least 21 years and older
• Able to provide informed consent
• Admitted for autologous stem cell transplant receiving melphalan conditioning chemotherapy regime
• Willing to have interviews audio-recorded

Exclusion criteria

• Currently using essential oils of any form (e.g. diffuser, topical application,
• Known sensitivity/ allergy to essential oils
• Any olfactory impairments (i.e. conditions that impair or alter sense of smell - for example, allergic rhinitis, chronic lung disease, blocked nose)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Control Group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants in the control group will receive the placebo intervention in addition to standard care. Participants will be provided with an identical aromatherapy inhaler stick infused solely with jojoba oil. Jojoba oil, primarily used as a carrier oil for dilution, has little to- no scent and no known therapeutic or anxiolytic effects when inhaled. This ensures that any potential benefits observed in the intervention group can be attributed to the active essential oil blends rather than the inhalation process itself.

Treatment:

Other: Aromatherapy inhaler (placebo)

Intervention group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in the intervention group will receive inhalation therapy via an aromatherapy inhaler stick\*, on top of standard care. Participants will be instructed to use the inhaler stick every four hours when they are awake, and whenever they feel nauseous, by holding the inhaler stick a finger's length away from their nostrils and inhaling through one nostril at a time. Each administration should not last more than 5 minutes. Participants will commence using the inhaler stick on the day of chemotherapy, until five days after the completion of chemotherapy (a total of six days).

Treatment:

Other: Aromatherapy inhaler