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. 2023 Jan 18;20(6):2459–2472. doi: 10.1111/iwj.14093

TABLE 2.

Interventions of the studies are included in the systematic review and meta‐analysis

First Author/year Intervention program Description
Seyyed‐Rasooli et al., 2016 45

Aromatherapy massage with lavender and almond oils and inhalation aromatherapy with lavender aroma

After stabilising the patients' physiological status as diagnosed by the physician, massage was done during the evening shift in a separate room free from noise and stimulation. So participants in the intervention group received 30 min of massage with mixed aromatic oil (three drops of lavender oil and 15 mL of almond oil). The content of this massage included six consecutive steps:
  1. Back surface stroking
  2. Back deep stroking
  3. Effleurage
  4. Re‐effleurage
  5. Back deep stroking
  6. Back surface stroking

Each step lasted 5 min.

For inhalation aromatherapy intervention, after stabilising the patients' physiological status as diagnosed by the physician, aromatherapy was done during the evening shift, in a separate room free from noise and stimulation. To perform this intervention, seven drops of lavender oil were poured on a piece of cotton using a dropper. This cotton was placed at a distance of 20 cm from the patient's nose for 30 min. Ten minutes after the intervention in both intervention groups, the researcher filled out the Spielberger trait state anxiety inventory to measure anxiety and the VAS scale for pain.

Rafiei et al., 2018 46

Aromatherapy massage with lavender and chamomile oil

Before the intervention, a sensitivity test was performed in the intervention group by rubbing some aromatic oil on the healthy areas of the skin. The next day, the desired location was checked for sensitivity. In the absence of sensitivity, the intervention was performed. Before the intervention, the researchers did the following steps:
  1. Clean the healthy areas of the skin with a towel moistened with warm water for better absorption of oils.
  2. washing hands
  3. Pour 5 cc of mixed oil into the palm of the hands and rub the hands together to warm them.
  4. Getting permission from the patient for a massage

After those participants in the intervention group received 20 min of massage with mixed aromatic oil (two drops of pure lavender essential oil and two drops of pure chamomile essential oil diluted in 30 ccs of grape seed base oil) for three sessions every other day. The massage technique was effleurage. Pain data were collected before and after aromatherapy. The visual analogue scale of pain was used to measure pain

Azizi et al., 2019 47

Inhalation aromatherapy with lavender

Participants in the intervention group received aromatherapy for 60 min before entering the dressing room. To carry out the intervention, 10 drops of 2% lavender extract were poured on 4 × 4 cm gauze. At first, the patient was asked to breathe five times to inhale the aroma. Then, this gauze was attached to the collar of the patient's shirt, about 10–15 cm from their nose for one‐hour inhalation. Pain and anxiety were assessed immediately after completion of the intervention and after dressing, respectively, with VAS and the Spielberger trait state anxiety inventory.
Rafii et al., 2020 36

Aromatherapy massage with lavender and chamomile oil

Before the intervention, a sensitivity test was performed in the intervention group by rubbing some aromatic oil on the healthy areas of the skin. The next day, the desired location was checked for sensitivity. In the absence of sensitivity, the intervention was performed. Before the intervention, the researchers did the following steps:
  1. Clean the healthy areas of the skin with a towel moistened with warm water for better absorption of oils.
  2. washing hands
  3. Pour 5 cc of mixed oil into the palm of the hands and rub the hands together to warm them.
  4. Getting permission from the patient for a massage

After those participants in the intervention group received 20 min of massage with mixed aromatic oil (two drops of pure lavender essential oil and two drops of pure chamomile essential oil diluted in 30 ccs of grape seed base oil) for three sessions every other day. The massage technique was effleurage. Anxiety data were collected before and after aromatherapy. The Spielberger trait state‐anxiety inventory was used to measure anxiety. Also, sleep‐quality data were collected before and after aromatherapy. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index was used to measure sleep quality.

K. J. Kim al., 2020 48

Inhalation aromatherapy with lavender

Participants in the intervention group received aromatherapy 30 min before dressing. To perform the intervention, 2 drops of lavender oil are poured on the scented paper. Then the paper was placed at a distance of 5 cm in front of the patient's nose for three deep breaths. These deep breaths were done for two minutes. 30 min after the intervention in intervention groups, the researcher filled out the Spielberger trait state anxiety inventory to measure anxiety and the VAS scale for pain.
Akgül et al., 2021 49 Inhalation aromatherapy with lavender Participants in the intervention group received aromatherapy for 15 or 60 min before the start of dressing. 0.5 mL of aromatherapy oil was poured on a 7.5 × 7.5 cm gauze. Then the clinical nurse placed this gauze at a distance of 20 cm from the child's nose. The pain level of the child was remeasured and recorded 1 and 30 min after the child returned to bed after dressing by a researcher who was blind to the study groups.