Effect of Lavender Essential Oil Inhalation on Anxiety Level for Patients Undergoing Closed Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

Contents: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the medical diagnostic imaging techniques that can provoke or exaggerate anxiety in certain patients. It may sometimes lead to the cancelation of the MRI. The lavender essential oil has a long historical anxiolytic benefit. Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of lavender essential oil inhalation with a massage on anxiety level for patients undergoing closed magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: A quasi-experimental research (study/control group) was used to achieve the aim of this study. The study was conducted at Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit in Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. A convenient sample of 100 patients was divided into the study and control groups (50 patients for each). Two tools were used in the present study. Those were structured interview questionnaire that elicited the patients' sociodemographic characteristics, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to identify the patients’ anxiety levels.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between both groups concerning the anxiety level before the MRI procedure (χ2=2.041, P = 0.495). While there were statistically significant differences between both groups concerning anxiety level post-MRI procedure and after receiving interventions (χ2 =35.135, P=0.000), there was a highly statistically significant difference between anxiety levels before and after receiving intervention in study group patients (t= 77.059, P=0.000).

Conclusion: Patients undergoing a closed magnetic resonance imaging who inhaled and massaged their hands with Lavender essential oil exhibited a reduced level of anxiety than the control group and compared to their preintervention level. The study recommended using the lavender essential oil, an inexpensive and noninvasive intervention in reducing MRI anxiety or other anxiety-producing procedures.