Trial Outcomes & Findings for Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study: Effects of Lavender Aromatherapy on Preoperative Anxiety in Breast Patients (NCT NCT01837966)

NCT ID: NCT01837966

Last Updated: 2017-03-03

Results Overview

We hoped to show that lavender aroma therapy reduces preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing breast. The Trait subscale (STAI-TRAID) of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered before and after 10 minutes of aromatherapy treatment pre-surgery. The TRAIT subscale contains 20 questions scored on a Likert scale from 1-4; item scores are summed for a total score ranging from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating higher anxiety. Change in anxiety was calculated as the score pre-aromatherapy minus the score post-aromatherapy. Higher positive change scores indicate greater reductions in anxiety.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

93 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

20 minutes before surgery (pre aromatherapy) and 10 minutes before surgery (post aromatherapy)

Results posted on

2017-03-03

Participant Flow

Patients were recruited from the out-patient surgical unit of New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center from January 18 - June 11, 2013. Only female patients having breast surgery were approached.

Only patients who had any allergy or sensitivity to the oils or had allergies were excluded.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil aromatherapy Lavender oil: 2 drops for aromatherapy
Placebo
Placebo -- unscented oil aromatherapy Placebo: 2 drops unscented mineral oil for aromatherapy
Overall Study
STARTED
47
46
Overall Study
COMPLETED
45
45
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
2
1

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil aromatherapy Lavender oil: 2 drops for aromatherapy
Placebo
Placebo -- unscented oil aromatherapy Placebo: 2 drops unscented mineral oil for aromatherapy
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
2
1

Baseline Characteristics

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study: Effects of Lavender Aromatherapy on Preoperative Anxiety in Breast Patients

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Lavender Oil
n=43 Participants
Lavender oil aromatherapy Lavender oil: 2 drops for aromatherapy
Placebo
n=45 Participants
Placebo - unscented oil aromatherapy Placebo: 2 drops unscented mineral oil for aromatherapy
Total
n=88 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
50 years
n=5 Participants
48 years
n=7 Participants
49 years
n=5 Participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Male
0 participants
n=5 Participants
0 participants
n=7 Participants
0 participants
n=5 Participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Female
43 participants
n=5 Participants
45 participants
n=7 Participants
88 participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
6 Participants
n=7 Participants
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
28 Participants
n=5 Participants
29 Participants
n=7 Participants
57 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
6 Participants
n=7 Participants
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification
ASA I
15 participants
n=5 Participants
15 participants
n=7 Participants
30 participants
n=5 Participants
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification
ASA II
27 participants
n=5 Participants
29 participants
n=7 Participants
56 participants
n=5 Participants
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification
ASA III
1 participants
n=5 Participants
1 participants
n=7 Participants
2 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 20 minutes before surgery (pre aromatherapy) and 10 minutes before surgery (post aromatherapy)

Population: Analysis of STAI-TRAIT questions

We hoped to show that lavender aroma therapy reduces preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing breast. The Trait subscale (STAI-TRAID) of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered before and after 10 minutes of aromatherapy treatment pre-surgery. The TRAIT subscale contains 20 questions scored on a Likert scale from 1-4; item scores are summed for a total score ranging from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating higher anxiety. Change in anxiety was calculated as the score pre-aromatherapy minus the score post-aromatherapy. Higher positive change scores indicate greater reductions in anxiety.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Lavender Oil
n=43 Participants
Lavender oil aromatherapy Lavender oil: 2 drops for aromatherapy There were no adverse events for this arm.
Placebo
n=45 Participants
Placebo -- unscented oil aromatherapy Placebo: 2 drops unscented mineral oil for aromatherapy There were no adverse events for this arm.
Anxiety Reduction
0.89 units on a scale
Standard Deviation .32
.74 units on a scale
Standard Deviation .44

Adverse Events

Lavender Oil

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Associate Professor ; Res Program Dir/Medical Dir Day Surgery; Vice Chair for Education

NYU School of Medicine

Phone: 212.263.5072

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place