Effect of aromatherapy with rose essential oil on the nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: The present study aims to determine the effect of aromatherapy with rose essential oil on the rate of nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 66 cancer patients who were randomly divided: the rose essential oil aromatherapy group (n=33) and the control group (n=33). The sampling period ranged from November 2022 to March 2023. The state of nausea and vomiting was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: The average scores of nausea and vomiting of both the second and third cycle in 3 time periods after chemotherapy (first, second and third six hours) were significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group (P<0.001). Also, in the second cycle of chemotherapy, unlike the third cycle of chemotherapy, there was a significant interaction between group and time (ηp2=0.100, P=0.001, F (84.70, 1.37) = 6.91). In other words, the amount of difference between the mean scores of nausea and vomiting of the two control and intervention groups depended on the variable levels of time and vice versa. Conclusion: The results indicate the reducing effect of aromatherapy with rose essential oil on the severity of nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy in cancer patients. Therefore, it is recommended to be used in chemotherapy to reduce the severity of nausea and vomiting according to the patient’s condition.