The Effects of Inhalation Method Using Essential Oils on the Preoperative Anxiety of Hystrectomy Patients

향기흡입법이 자궁적출술 환자의 수술전 불안에 미치는 효과

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of inhalation method using essential oils on the preoperative anxiety of hystrectomy patients, and to provide effective and holistic nursing care to them. The research design was a nonequivalent control group non synchronized design. The data were collected from February 1 to March 31, 2002 at D Medical Center in Busan. The subjects were forty one patients that were operated on under general anesthesia for hystrectomy. They were assigned to two groups, twenty one subjects in the experimental group and twenty subjects in the control group. The tool of the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) was used to anxiety on all patients the day before surgery and the preoperative period. Then systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate levels were measured the day before surgery and the preoperative period. The experimental group received two treatments of inhalation method using essential oils of with lavender, ylang ylang, and bergamot oil. The data were analyzed by the $X^2$ test and the independent t-test. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. Hypothesis 1: It has been supported that the experimental group received inhalation method using essential oils might cause lower level of the preoperative VAS anxiety than that of the control group(t=-2.93, p=.006). 2. Hypothesis 2: It has been rejected that the experimental group received inhalation method using essential oils might cause lower level in the preoperative systolic blood pressure than the control group(t=-.120, p=.905). It has been rejected that the experimental group received inhalation method using essential oils might cause lower level in the preoperative diastolic blood pressure than the control group.(t=1.766, p=.085). 3. Hypothesis 3: It has been supported that the experimental group received inhalation method using essential oils might cause lower level in preoperative pulse rate than the control group(t=5.853, p=.000). According to these results, inhalation method using essential oils can be considered an effective nursing intervention that relieves the preoperative anxiety of hysterectomy patients and stabilizes vital sign partially.