Background: Warm compresses are one of the nursing techniques clinically used to improve patients’ comfort and promote the treatment efficacy. Here the effects of eye masks (EM), heated eye masks (HEM), and aroma-scented heated eye masks (AHEM) and their potential as a nursing technique to provide comfort were studied.Methods: Participants in this study were 42 healthcare professionals (female, 20–60 years of age), who voluntarily consented to participate. They participated in all three interventions with EM, HEM, and AHEM at an interval of at least 1 week between interventions. Indicators used were low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF), blood flow, axillary temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, the salivary α-amylase activity (SAA), and the Profile of Mood States Second Edition (POMS).Results: Of 42 participants in total, 32 were included in the analysis. Their mean age was 46.8 years. The blood flow and axillary temperature values significantly increased and the LF/HF values and the pulse rates significantly decreased after the use of EM, HEM, or AHEM. The POMS Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) score and scores for six POMS subscales significantly decreased after the use of EM, HEM, or AHEM.Comparisons among the three groups showed differences in LF/HF. Scores for subscales of POMS also differed among the three groups.Conclusions: These results suggest that the use of EM, HEM, or AHEM intervention is safe with no major body burden. Parasympathetic nerves may be dominant after the EM, HEM, or AHEM interventions The TMD score improved after the EM, HEM, or AHEM intervention. The data suggest that the AHEM use is particularly effective in alleviating depression, dejection, and confusion after the intervention. These findings indicates that the EM, HEM, or AHEM use holds potential as a nursing technique to provide comfort.Trial registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000018409Trial registration number: UMIN-CTR R000021207Date of registration: 07/24/2015
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