Effectiveness of Plai oil inhalation on changes in the elder emotional levels

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Plai oil inhalation in relation to emotional levels changes among elderly individuals. The study included 30 elderly volunteers studying. They were randomly divided into two groups. the experimental group, which inhaled Plai oil, and the control group, which inhaled white oil or Carnation oil. Data collected involved a demographic information, with a 95% confidence level. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to measure pre- and post-trial differences, and the Man-Whitney U test was applied to compare the experimental group and the control group.

The findings suggested that Inhalation Plai oil for three minutes has been observed to influence changes in the emotional levels of participants. Following Plai oil inhalation, the intervention group displayed statistically significantly higher levels of basic emotional states, alertness, and a calm, relaxed mood compared to the control group. This effect extended to other emotions such as feeling less burdened by life’s problem, experiencing increase happiness, being more friendly and sociable, displaying greater interest in ongoing activities, and experiencing excitement. Furthermore, the intervention group consistently maintained a statistically significantly higher average emotional state score compared to the control group. These results indicate that Plai oil inhalation has a noticeable impact on enhancing positive emotional states in the elderly. Consequently, there is potential for further research and development in formulating essential oils incorporating various herbal ingredients for aromatherapy, particularly for enhancing the well-being of elderly individuals.