Effectiveness of Aromatherapy on Sleep Quality Among Patients with Cancer Admitted to Healthcare Facilities: A Systematic Review
Keywords:
Aromatherapy, Cancer patients, Sleep quality, Systematic reviewAbstract
Poor sleep quality is common in cancer patients, especially those in healthcare facilities. Aromatherapy is one non-pharmacologic intervention to promote sleep quality. This systematic review aimed to identify the effects of aromatherapy on sleep quality among patients with cancer in healthcare facilities. The main outcome was sleep quality, and secondary outcomes were insomnia and anxiety. This study was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute systematic review process. Published and non-published randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental research in English and Thai language from 2010 to 2021 were identified in databases, resulting in 504 studies, 493 of which were omitted due to non-eligibility. Therefore, 11 studies remained, three of which met the critical appraisal evaluation. These three were randomized controlled trials, two of which were analyzed by meta-analysis.
The meta-analysis of the two studies revealed no statistical significance regarding the effectiveness of aromatherapy on sleep quality in the control or experimental groups (P = 0.41) with very high heterogeneity (I2 = 96%). Regarding the anxiety outcome, one study indicated that massage with lavender essential oil could reduce anxiety and increase sleep quality levels in colorectal cancer patients in the preoperative period. However, the number of studies was limited. Therefore, the effectiveness of aromatherapy on the sleep quality and anxiety of patients with cancer in healthcare facilities was inconclusive. The certainty of the evidence for outcomes was at low and moderate levels.
These results suggested that repeated studies should be done in this population to evaluate aromatherapy's effectiveness. However, the application should be considered based on its appropriateness for patients’ health conditions and the setting contexts.
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