Aromatherapy

BACKGROUND: Pain is one of the common problems encountered by patients with burns, which increases after each dressing. This study aimed to investigate the effect of inhalation aromatherapy with damask rose essence on the pain of patients with burns that is caused after dressing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with second- and third-degree burn wounds. The baseline pain of the patients was assessed 30 min before they entered into the dressing room on the first and second days of intervention. The patients in the experimental group inhaled five drops of damask rose essence 40% in distilled water, while those in the control group inhaled five drops of distilled water as placebo. The pain intensity was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale at 15 and 30 min after the patients exited from the dressing room. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version 18) using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: There was significant difference between the mean of pain intensity before and after intervention at 15 and 30 min after dressing (P<0.001). Moreover, there was significant difference in reduction of pain intensity before and after aromatherapy in the experimental group (P<0.05). Also, there was a significant reduction in severity of pain after dressing in the experimental group compared with the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation aromatherapy with damask rose could be effective for relieving the pain caused after dressing in patients with burns. Therefore, it could be suggested as a complementary therapy in burn patients for pain relief.