The effect of aromatherapy with orange essential oils on anxiety in patients undergoing hemodialysis

All hemodialysis patients experience some degree of anxiety during hemodialysis. Anxiety increases morbidity and mortality. The aim of this research is to compare the effect of orange essential oil aromatherapy on anxiety of hemodialysis patients. In this clinical trial, sixty-two hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to two groups: an orange oil group (n=31), and a usual care group (n=31). In orange oil group, subjects inhaled orange oil using handkerchiefs smeared with orange oil for 15-20 minutes. This method was used three times a week for four weeks. In the usual care group, subjects received the routine care of the hemodialysis ward. The level of anxiety in the two groups was measured and compared before intervention, as well as after the first, second, third, and fourth weeks of intervention, using Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire. Before intervention, the mean state anxiety scores were 46.9±9.7 and 48.3±11.6 and the mean trait anxiety scores were 46.5±9.2 and 47.9±11.6 in orange oil and usual care groups, respectively. After intervention, the mean state anxiety scores were 35.9±8.7 and 45.1±1.7 and the mean trait anxiety scores were 36.0±10.0 and 45.6±11.8 in orange oil and usual care groups, respectively. In orange oil group, the level of state and trait anxiety decreased significantly compared with usual care group (p<0.001). Also, in orange oil group, the level of state and trait anxiety decreased significantly between the first, second, third, and fourth weeks of intervention (p<0.05). Orange oil aromatherapy can reduce state and trait anxiety in hemodialysis patients without important complications.