Nurses experience of aromatherapy use with dementia patients experiencing disturbed sleep patterns. An action research project.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Observational Study
- Sample Size
- 36
- Population
- 24 dementia residents and 12 nurses from four nursing homes with anxiety and disturbed sleep patterns
- Intervention
- Nurses experience of aromatherapy use with dementia patients experiencing disturbed sleep patterns. An action research project. Lavender augustofolia essential oil diffused nightly
- Comparator
- standard care without aromatherapy
- Primary Outcome
- Nurses' experiences and perceived effectiveness on insomnia and anxiety in dementia patients
- Effect Direction
- Positive
- Risk of Bias
- High
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to gain an insight into nurses' experiences of incorporating aromatherapy into the care of residents suffering from dementia, anxiety and disturbed sleep patterns. Twenty-four residents and twelve nurses from four nursing homes participated in an action research study. The use of lavender augustofolia essential oil diffused nightly was perceived as an effective care modality reducing insomnia and anxiety in this patient cohort. Nurses experienced some negative attitudes among colleagues because they considered aromatherapy as not evidence based. Nurses require greater access to evidence based use of Aromatherapy. Further research is needed to study how smell can enhance dementia care.
TL;DR
The use of lavender augustofolia essential oil diffused nightly was perceived as an effective care modality reducing insomnia and anxiety in this patient cohort.