The Effectiveness of Lavender Aromatherapy Combined With Slow Breathing Exercises in Improving Occupational Burnout and Sleep Disorders Among Nursing Staff

NCT ID: NCT06914167

Last Updated: 2025-05-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

70 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-04-01

Study Completion Date

2026-02-28

Brief Summary

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This study investigates the effects of breathing exercises combined with lavender essential oil inhalation on occupational burnout and sleep disturbances in rotating shift nurses.

Detailed Description

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This study will adopt a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design targeting rotating shift nurses with at least six months of clinical experience at a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Eligible participants who consent to join the study will be randomly assigned into five groups using block randomization. The randomization process will be conducted via sealed envelopes to allocate participants into the following groups: Experimental Group 1, Experimental Group 2, Experimental Group 3, Breathing-Only Group, and Control Group.

Experimental Group 1: Participants will receive slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) once daily before bedtime, combined with the inhalation of 3 drops of natural lavender essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.

Experimental Group 2: Same breathing protocol as above, with 3 drops of linalyl acetate-containing essential oil.

Experimental Group 3: Same breathing protocol, with 3 drops of linalool-containing essential oil.

Breathing-Only Group: Participants will perform slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime, without any essential oil inhalation, for 4 weeks.

Control Group: Participants will maintain their usual lifestyle without any intervention.

The outcomes will be evaluated using a nurse burnout scale and a sleep quality scale. Measurements will be taken at three time points: baseline (pre-test), 4 weeks after the intervention (post-test 1), and 8 weeks after the intervention (follow-up/post-test 2).

The study is co-led by Yao-Hsiang Chen, Assistant Head Nurse at Tri-Service General Hospital Songshan Branch, and Professor Chia-Hui Lin, School of Nursing, National Defense Medical Center.

Conditions

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Sleep Wake Disorders

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Caregivers

Study Groups

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Control Group

Participants will maintain their usual lifestyle without any intervention.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Breathing-Only Group

Participants will perform slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime, without any essential oil inhalation, for 4 weeks.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Slow Breathing Exercises

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform slow breathing (6 breaths/min) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime

Experimental Group 1

Participants will receive slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) once daily before bedtime, combined with the inhalation of 3 drops of natural lavender essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Slow Breathing Exercises

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform slow breathing (6 breaths/min) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime

Lavender Essential Oil Inhalation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

inhalation of 3 drops of lavender essential oil on a towel,

Experimental Group 2

Same breathing protocol as above, with 3 drops of linalyl acetate-containing essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Slow Breathing Exercises

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform slow breathing (6 breaths/min) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime

linalyl acetate essential oil Inhalation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

inhalation of 3 drops of linalyl acetate essential oil on a towel.

Experimental Group 3

Same breathing protocol, with 3 drops of linalool-containing essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Slow Breathing Exercises

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform slow breathing (6 breaths/min) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime

linalool essential oil Inhalation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

inhalation of 3 drops of linalool essential oil on a towel.

Interventions

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Slow Breathing Exercises

Participants will perform slow breathing (6 breaths/min) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Lavender Essential Oil Inhalation

inhalation of 3 drops of lavender essential oil on a towel,

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

linalyl acetate essential oil Inhalation

inhalation of 3 drops of linalyl acetate essential oil on a towel.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

linalool essential oil Inhalation

inhalation of 3 drops of linalool essential oil on a towel.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Aged between 20 and 65 years Registered nurses with at least 6 months of clinical experience and currently working rotating shifts Scores ≥1 in each of the three dimensions (emotional exhaustion, reduced personal accomplishment, depersonalization) on the Nursing Burnout Scale (NBS) Willing to participate in the study and accept random assignment

Exclusion Criteria

Nurses with less than 6 months of clinical experience Individuals with anosmia or reduced sense of smell Diagnosed with psychiatric disorders Allergic to lavender essential oil Not currently working rotating shifts
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Tri-Service General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Chen, Yao-Hsiang

Assistant hand nurse

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Tri-Service General Hospital, Songshan Branch

Taipei City, Taipei, Taiwan

Site Status

Countries

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Taiwan

References

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Bavarsad NH, Bagheri S, Kourosh-Arami M, Komaki A. Aromatherapy for the brain: Lavender's healing effect on epilepsy, depression, anxiety, migraine, and Alzheimer's disease: A review article. Heliyon. 2023 Jul 20;9(8):e18492. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18492. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37554839 (View on PubMed)

Sugawara Y, Shigetho A, Yoneda M, Tuchiya T, Matumura T, Hirano M. Relationship between mood change, odour and its physiological effects in humans while inhaling the fragrances of essential oils as well as linalool and its enantiomers. Molecules. 2013 Mar 13;18(3):3312-38. doi: 10.3390/molecules18033312.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23486108 (View on PubMed)

Zangaro GA, Dulko D, Sullivan D, Weatherspoon D, White KM, Hall VP, Squellati R, Donnelli A, James J, Wilson DR. Systematic Review of Burnout in US Nurses. Nurs Clin North Am. 2022 Mar;57(1):1-20. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2021.11.001.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35236600 (View on PubMed)

Zaccaro A, Piarulli A, Melosini L, Menicucci D, Gemignani A. Neural Correlates of Non-ordinary States of Consciousness in Pranayama Practitioners: The Role of Slow Nasal Breathing. Front Syst Neurosci. 2022 Mar 21;16:803904. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.803904. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35387390 (View on PubMed)

Yang CP, Yang CC, Tsai IJ, Lin TH, Chiou YL, Wang HF, Chang CM, Yih KH. The immediate effects of lavender-based essential oil inhalation on subsequent polysomnography in people with poor sleep quality. J Chin Med Assoc. 2023 Jul 1;86(7):665-671. doi: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000932. Epub 2023 Apr 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37098173 (View on PubMed)

Sullivan V, Hughes V, Wilson DR. Nursing Burnout and Its Impact on Health. Nurs Clin North Am. 2022 Mar;57(1):153-169. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2021.11.011. Epub 2022 Feb 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35236605 (View on PubMed)

Moghadam ZE, Delmoradi F, Aemmi SZ, Vaghee S, Vashani HB. Effectiveness of aromatherapy with inhaled lavender essential oil and breathing exercises on ECT-related anxiety in depressed patients. Explore (NY). 2022 Nov-Dec;18(6):683-687. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2021.12.006. Epub 2021 Dec 30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35027302 (View on PubMed)

Laborde S, Allen MS, Borges U, Dosseville F, Hosang TJ, Iskra M, Mosley E, Salvotti C, Spolverato L, Zammit N, Javelle F. Effects of voluntary slow breathing on heart rate and heart rate variability: A systematic review and a meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022 Jul;138:104711. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104711. Epub 2022 May 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35623448 (View on PubMed)

Hedigan F, Sheridan H, Sasse A. Benefit of inhalation aromatherapy as a complementary treatment for stress and anxiety in a clinical setting - A systematic review. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2023 Aug;52:101750. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101750. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37031643 (View on PubMed)

Balban MY, Neri E, Kogon MM, Weed L, Nouriani B, Jo B, Holl G, Zeitzer JM, Spiegel D, Huberman AD. Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal. Cell Rep Med. 2023 Jan 17;4(1):100895. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100895. Epub 2023 Jan 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36630953 (View on PubMed)

Antczak-Komoterska A, Haor B, Malinowska M, Grzelak L, Biercewicz M, Kochman D, Krajewska K, Filipska-Blejder K, Wisniewski A, Slusarz R. Analysis of the Level of Stress and Methods of Coping with Stress among the Nursing Staff. Nurs Rep. 2023 Sep 14;13(3):1318-1330. doi: 10.3390/nursrep13030111.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37755354 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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TSGH-SS_E_114015

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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