Comparison the effects of inhalation and massage aromatherapy with lavender and sweet orange on fatigue in hemodialysis patients: a randomized clinical trial

Objectives Fatigue, regardless of the causes, could leave a negative impact on individual performance. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of inhalation and massage aromatherapy with lavender and sweet orange on fatigue among hemodialysis patients. Methods This study was a randomized controlled trial. The patients (96 patients) were allocated to three groups (control, an inhalation aromatherapy, and an aromatherapy massage group). A demographic questionnaire as well as the rhoten fatigue scale (RFS) was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics using SPSS version 18. Results Before the intervention, there was no significant difference among the groups regarding fatigue level (p=0.54). However, eight and 16 weeks after the study, the levels of fatigue in both experimental groups were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions Interventions with essential oils are effective in reducing fatigue in hemodialysis patients, although the effects of aromatherapy massage on fatigue are stronger than the effects of inhalation aromatherapy.

Keywords: aromatherapy massage; fatigue; hemodialysis; inhalation aromatherapy; lavender; sweet orange.