The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy with Orange Essential Oil on Improving Sleep Disturbances of School-Aged Children with Leukemia

Sleep-disturbances in hospitalized school-aged children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia(ALL) are a common complaint that leads to a decrease in the quality of life of these children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of orange essential oil aromatherapy on sleep-disorders in children with ALL.

This quasi-experimental research was conducted with two groups of 30school-aged children with ALL hospitalized in Shafai-Hospital in Ahvaz city, by sampling using the available method and with a score of more than 41 from the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire(CSHQ), in 2014 with obtaining written consent. Sampling and intervention in order to prevent the interference of the smell of essential oil was done first in the control group by inhaling 2drops of placebo, then in the test group by inhaling 2drops of orange essential oil for one week and at the end of the week, CSHQ was completed again. The obtained information was analyzed by SPSS statistical software and paired t and independent t tests.

The analysis of data after aromatherapy shows a statistically significant difference in most of the sleep-disorders of the experimental group, including sleep-duration(P=0.001). Sleep-anxiety(P=0.01) and insomnia(P=0.001) compared to sleep-disorders in the control group(P>0.05). The analysis of data before and after aromatherapy showed that the difference in the average scores of most sleep-disorders such as sleep-duration(1.53±0.44), sleep-anxiety (5/03±1/29) and insomnia(9/9±2/98) were significant in the test group(P<0.05) and not significant in the control group(P>0.05).

Aromatherapy with orange essential oil can improve the sleep-disorders of hospitalized school-aged children with ALL and ultimately improve the quality of life of these children.