Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung TYJ(1), Lee CM(1), Wong KY(1), Wong YT(1), Wu KL(1), Yu MH(1), Poon ST(1),Ho KM(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Intensive Care, Prince of Wales Hospital
Introduction :
Pain is a prevalent issue for intensive care unit (ICU) patients, resulting from critical illness, medical procedures and routine nursing care. Inadequate pain management can lead to complications from patient-ventilator asynchrony and prolonged mechanical ventilation to increased ICU stays. Aromatherapy combined with pharmacological treatments may provide effective pain relief with fewer side effects.
Objectives :
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy as a non-pharmacological approach for pain management in ICU patients. The objectives include:
1. Assessing the pain relief effectiveness of aromatherapy.
2. Identifying additional positive outcomes of aromatherapy.
Methodology :
The study was conducted in the ICU of Prince of Wales Hospital from January to May 2024. Forty-five eligible ICU patients experiencing pain and meeting the inclusion criteria (e.g., full Glasgow Coma Scale, ability to communicate) participated. Patients with conditions such as ENT-related disorders, neurosurgical injuries to the frontal or temporal lobes, contraindications to aromatherapy (e.g., pregnancy, epilepsy, asthma and allergies), inability to smell (e.g., on non-invasive ventilation or with nasal packing), or respiratory distress were excluded. Two essential oils, lavender and sweet orange, were selected after the literature review. Patients chose their preferred oil and 5-10 drops were applied on gauze placed on their shoulder for 30 minutes. Pain scores were measured before and after the intervention using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Additional data such as potential positive outcomes and feedback were also collected.
Result & Outcome :
Approximately 80% of participants reported reduced pain after aromatherapy with 16% experiencing other benefits such as reduced anxiety, improved sleep quality, reduced unpleasant hospital odors and relief of subjective shortness of breath (SOB). Sweet orange oil showed slightly higher pain reduction (83.3%) compared to lavender oil (71.4%). Patients with no analgesics prescribed experienced significant pain reduction indicating aromatherapy’s independent efficacy. Gender differences were noted with male participants showing higher pain reduction rates than females. However, limited sample size restricts definitive conclusions.
Aromatherapy effectively reduced pain in ICU patients and offered additional benefits. Its rapid administration, minimal side effects and ease of integration into ICU care make it a valuable non-pharmacological pain management option. Larger studies are recommended to explore gender-specific responses and validate findings.
