EFFECTS OF AROMATHERAPY WITH LAVENDER ON SLEEP QUALITY OF HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS (A CLINICAL TRIAL)

Sleep disorders are common in hemodialysis patients; it can decrease the quality of life and increase the rate of death. In some studies, the calming effect of lavender has been pointed out, so this research was conducted to examine the effects of aromatherapy with Lavender Essential oil on sleep quality of hemodialysis patients.
This clinical trial was performed on 60 patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment From May to June 2014. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: intervention and control. To evaluate sleep quality, the researchers applied the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. In the intervention group, the patients were requested to inhale a piece of cloth smeared with three drops of the Lavender Essential oil during dialysis sessions. In the control group, only the usual care was given. At the end of the fourth week, the patients’ sleep quality was measured again.
Before intervention, the mean total score of sleep in the intervention group was 8.55 ± 4.75, and in the control group, it was 9.00 ± 5.00 that was not statistically significant. After intervention, the mean total score of sleep in the intervention group changed to 7.62 ± 4.07, and in the control group, it changed to 8.46 ± 5.46 which did not show a significant difference. In within-groups comparison the total score of sleep in both groups before and after intervention was not statistically significant.
The findings of the study demonstrated that aromatherapy with Lavender cannot improve sleep quality in hemodialysis patients.