Lavender Sandalwood Aromatherapy Study

Memorial Hermann Health System

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Patient Satisfaction; Scheduled Cesarean Sections; Mood; Pain

Treatments: Other: Lavender-sandalwood aromatherapy tabs

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07737392

HSC-MH-25-0731

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this randomized controlled study is to explore whether lavender sandalwood aromatherapy can support comfort, mood, pain relief, and overall satisfaction for participants recovering from a scheduled cesarean section without complications. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

• How does lavender sandalwood aromatherapy affect participants' mood during postpartum recovery after a cesarean section?
• Does lavender sandalwood aromatherapy help reduce pain during recovery?
• Does lavender sandalwood aromatherapy improve participants' overall satisfaction with their recovery experience? Researchers will compare participants who receive lavender-sandalwood aromatherapy with those who do not to determine whether it improves mood, reduces pain, and enhances patient satisfaction.

Participants will be asked to:

• Wear aromatherapy tabs on their gown for 24 hours.
• Have the aromatherapy tabs applied 24 hours after the cesarean section and removed 48 hours after the cesarean section.
• Complete surveys at 24 hours and 48 hours after the cesarean section. This will apply to both the control and intervention groups.

Full description

Aromatherapy represents a holistic, patient-centered approach designed to enhance comfort, relaxation, and sleep for individuals receiving medical care. This method is both cost-effective and associated with minimal side effects, making it an appealing option as a complementary therapy. For centuries, essential oils have been incorporated into care routines to help relieve a variety of symptoms, including pain, anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Their use is especially prominent during significant life events such as pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, where they support emotional and physical well-being.

This randomized controlled trial has been designed to assess the therapeutic effects of Lavender Sandalwood Elequil Aromatabs in women scheduled for planned cesarean sections. In this study, participants in the experimental group will receive self-adhesive aromatherapy tabs containing a blend of lavender and sandalwood essential oils. These tabs are conveniently placed on hospital gowns and are intended to deliver continuous aromatic benefits for up to 24 hours following surgery, in addition to the standard post-operative care provided. Participants in the control group, on the other hand, will receive only the standard care without aromatherapy exposure.

The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate changes in emotional well-being, pain perception, and overall patient satisfaction among cesarean-section patients. Emotional states will be measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), which captures both positive and negative mood dimensions. Pain levels will be assessed with the Defense Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS), a validated tool for quantifying pain intensity. Additionally, the Net Promoter Score (NPS) will be used to gauge patient satisfaction with their care experience. Collectively, these measures will offer comprehensive insights into how aromatherapy may contribute to improved recovery and holistic well-being during the post-surgical period.

Enrollment: 182 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients scheduled for a planned cesarean section
• Undergoing pre-admission testing

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals under 18 years of age
• High-risk pregnancies
• Patients not admitted to the postpartum unit following delivery
• Individuals with known allergies to essential oils
• Patients whose newborns require admission to the NICU
• Patients originally scheduled for a cesarean section but admitted to the labor and delivery unit before the planned procedure

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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182 participants in 2 patient groups

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants assigned to the control group will receive standard post-operative care following their scheduled cesarean section, with no aromatherapy intervention. This approach enables a clear comparison with the experimental group to evaluate the impact of aromatherapy. The PANAS and DVPRS assessments will be administered at 24 and 48 hours post-surgery.

Experimental group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants assigned to the intervention group will have self-adhesive aromatherapy tabs applied to their hospital gowns within 24 hours after their cesarean surgery. These aromatabs, containing a blend of lavender and sandalwood essential oils, are worn continuously for 24 hours, delivering consistent aromatic exposure. After this 24-hour interval, the tabs will be removed 48 hours post-surgery. To assess the impact of the aromatherapy intervention, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Defense Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) will be administered at both the 24-hour and 48-hour following surgery. This approach will allow for a detailed evaluation of changes in mood and pain levels associated with the use of Aromatabs during the immediate postoperative recovery period.

Treatment:

Other: Lavender-sandalwood aromatherapy tabs