The effects of aromatherapy using rose oil (Rosa damascena Mill.) on preoperative anxiety: A prospective randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Preoperative anxiety is a common problem before anesthesia. Pharmacologic agents or non-pharmacologic methods are widely used to reduce preoperative anxiety. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of aromatherapy with rose oil on preoperative anxiety. Methods: This study was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. The patients (n = 99) were randomized as the control group (group C), the sham group (group S) and the rose oil group (group R). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Questionnaire of Spielberger (STAI-S) was used to determine anxiety levels. The first STAI-S (Q_1) was administered in the otorhinolaryngology clinic in the morning on the day of the operation. Group C received no intervention. In group S, a mixture (distilled water/ethyl alcohol) and in group R, a mixture (distilled water/ethyl alcohol/0.2 mL rose oil (Rosa damascena Mill.)) was used with the ultrasonic aroma diffuser. Aromatherapy was applied by an ultrasonic nebulizer for 15 min before patients went to the operating room for surgery in group S and group R.In the operating room, the second STAI-S (Q_2) were recorded. Results: There was no statistical significant difference between the groups at baseline in terms of Q_1 scores, but when the second STAI-S was administered after the intervention, there was a significant difference in Q_2 scores (43.15 +/- 7.55, 36.03 +/- 9.60, respectively, 95% CI, 38.39-43.12, P = .004) between group C and R. Conclusions: The application of rose oil aromatherapy by inhalation reduced the scores of preoperative anxiety of patients undergoing septorhinoplasty/rhinoplasty.