Context: Although a number of studies have shown that lavender administered via inhalation can decrease the invasive pain and anxiety experienced by hemodialysis (HD) patients during cannulation, the evaluation has mostly been on the short-term effectiveness of lavender oil. Also, no study has evaluated the effects of lavender on comfort level.
Objective: The study aimed to investigate the long-term effectiveness of lavender oil, when administered via an inhaler during HD sessions, on a patient's experience of invasive pain, anxiety, and comfort during access to the fistula.
Design: The research team designed a prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.
Setting: The study took place in an HD unit of a public hospital in Kirklareli, Turkey.
Participants: Participants were 24 patients receiving HD in the unit between January and March 2021.
Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Pure lavender essence was diluted with sweet almond oil at a ratio of 1:10. Before the cannulation procedure at 12 HD sessions, three drops of a 1:10 mixture were placed on sterile gauze and held at a distance of about 10 cm from the participant's nose to ensure its inhalation before the fistula puncture with the needle. No extra procedure was performed for the control group.
Outcome measures: Participants completed a visual analogue scale (VAS) right after puncture of the fistula during each HD session. The STAI and HD Comfort Scale were scored at baseline prior to the first HD session and postintervention at the twelfth HD session.
Results: The VAS (P < .001) and state anxiety scores (P = .027) were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group at all time points, except at baseline. The comfort scale in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < .05).
Conclusions: Lavender aromatherapy could be a good option for reducing the pain, anxiety, and discomfort level of HD patients.