The effect of inhalation of peppermint essential oilon anxiety and acurracy of nursing students in emergency department of Birjand educational hospitals

Accuracy and lack of anxiety are two important factors in how nursing student’s work. Various methods, including aromatherapy, have been suggested to reduce anxiety and increase accuracy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhaling peppermint essential oilon anxiety and accuracy of nursing students in emergency department of Birjandeducational hospitals.

This is a clinical trial study. One drop of peppermint essential oil (experimental group, n = 32) and one drop of sweet almond oil (placebo,n = 32) was poured on the gauze into the mask and inhaled for 20 minutes in 4 days. Both Bonardel Accuracy Questionnaire and Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire were completed by both groups before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software. The study used t-test, paired t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and chi-square test.

The results of this study showed that both groups were similar in terms of demographic variables. Paired t-test showed no significant difference between the two groups before and after the intervention (P<0.05). Paired t-test results showed that the mean score of accuracy after the intervention was significantly higher in both groups (P<0.001).

Peppermint essential oil compared to the placebo group was able to increase the accuracy of nursing students, which is consistent with the findings of other studies.