Table 1.

The basic characteristics and main results of the studies are included in the systematic review and meta-analysis

First Author/year	Location	Sample size (Control/Placebo /Intervention)	Age		Type of Intervention		Tool	Outcome	Main results
Ozen et al., 2022 (37)	Turkey	24 (11/0/13)	63.00 (SD=14.79) 56.77 (SD=13.29) 59.88 (SD=14.04)	None	Lavender essence was diluted with sweet almond oil at a ratio of 1:10	Inhalation 12 3 drops 3	VAS	Pain	Lavender aromatherapy could be a good option for reducing the pain level of HD patients.
Tüzün Özdemir et al., 2021 (35)	Turkey	60 (30/0/30)	N/R	None	100% lavender essential oil	Topical 3 3 drops 5	VAS	Pain	After inhaler and topical application of lavender oil, a significant decrease in the severity of pain was recorded for patients at the time of arterial insertion of needles.
Sahin et al., 2021 (34)	Turkey	74 (0/38/36)	53.62 (SD=11.03) 50.75 (SD=18.02) 52.18 (SD=14.52)	Olive oil	100% lavender essential oil	Inhalation 3 5 drops 5	NRS	Pain	Inhalation of lavender aromatherapy was effective in relieving the pain of AVF puncture in patients.
Taşana et al., 2019 (16)	Turkey	60 (30/0/30)	N/R	None	The mixture contains a 1:10 ratio of lavender oil and sweet almond oil	Inhalation 3 5 drops 3 to 5	VAS	Pain	Lavender oil inhalation to patients undergoing HD decreased pain level.
Ghods et al., 2015 (7)	Iran	102 (34/34/34)	N/R	None 3 puffs of water were sprayed	100% lavender essential oil	Topical 3 3 puffs (0.3 ml) 5	NRS	Pain	The topical application of lavender significantly decreases moderate intensities of pain during the insertion of dialysis needles.
Bagheri-Nesami et al., 2014 (33)	Iran	92 (0/46/46)	58.06 (SD=1.83) 60.95 (SD=1.93) 59.50 (SD=1.88)	Sweet almond oil	lavender essence with a concentration of 10% (diluted 1:10 with sweet almond oil)	Inhalation 3 3 drops 5	VAS	Pain	A significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the mean score of pain severity
Amrollahi et al., 2022 (32)	Iran	41 (20/0/21)	N/R	Routine care	Not mentioned	Massage-inhalation 12 10 cc 30	RLS rating scale	RLS	The use of lavender oil during massage therapy can serve as a complementary treatment along with other care to alleviate the symptoms of RLS
Ghasemi et al., 2021 (21)	Iran	70 (0/35/35)	N/R N/R 50.46 (SD=0.86)	Relaxing techniques	Linalool	Massage-inhalation 24 10 cc 15	RLS rating scale	RLS	Aromatherapy massage reduced the RLS severity, but reflexology did not appear to cause any significant reduction in it.
Oshvandi et al., 2021 (36)	Iran	70 (35/0/35)	N/R	Routine care	(27.11%) and linalyl acetate (23.33%) in the ratio of 3:3:2:2 mL in 100 mL of coconut carrier	Massage-inhalation 9 10 to 15 cc 18	RLS rating scale	RLS	Aromatherapy prepared with lavender oil and sweet orange may be recommended to reduce the RLS level of HD patients.
Mirbagher Ajorpaz et al ., 2019 (31)	Iran	59 (30/0/29)	56.10 (SD=13.56) 56.95 (SD=13.50) 56.52 (SD=13.53)	Routine care	Oil	Massage-inhalation 12 10 to 15 cc 45	RLS rating scale	RLS	The differences between the control and lavender oil groups, as well as the control and glycerin oil groups, were significant.
Hashemi et al ., 2015 (9)	Iran	70 (35/0/35)	56.10 (SD=13.56) 57.50 (SD=14.60) 56.80 (SD=14.08)	Routine care	Essential oil 1.5%	Massage-inhalation 6 10 to 15 cc 10	RLS rating scale	RLS	The lavender oil massage was effective in improving RLS in HD patients.

HD: hemodialysis; VAS: visual analog scale; NRS: numeric Rating Scale; N/R: not reported ;SD: standard deviation; RLS: restless legs syndrome; AVF: arteriovenous fistula.