Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Preoperative Anxiety, Stress, and Depression in Orthopedic Surgery Patients

NCT07513831 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: AZUJ-NUR-AROMA-ORTHO-2024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 128
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates whether inhalation aromatherapy with lavender essential oil can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression in adult patients before orthopedic surgery in Jordan. Orthopedic procedures are often associated with high levels of psychological distress, which may worsen pain, delay recovery, and prolong hospital stay. Aromatherapy is a simple, non-drug intervention that may help patients feel calmer and better prepared for surgery. The study was conducted in two large public hospitals, Al-Bashir Hospital in Amman and Al Hussein Al-Salt New Hospital in Al-Salt. Adult patients (18 years or older) scheduled for major orthopedic operations who could read and write Arabic and agreed to participate were invited to join the study. Patients with respiratory problems, an allergy to lavender oil, pregnancy, or severe non-orthopedic pain were excluded. Participants were assigned to one of two groups. In the intervention group, patients inhaled 100% lavender essential oil for 20 minutes from a cotton pad placed about 5 cm from the nose before surgery. In the control group, patients inhaled room air only and received routine preoperative nursing care. All participants completed a short questionnaire, the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), before and after the intervention to measure their levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. A total of 128 patients took part, with 64 in the lavender group and 64 in the control group. The results showed that patients who received lavender aromatherapy had lower anxiety, stress, and depression scores before surgery compared with those who did not receive aromatherapy. These findings suggest that lavender inhalation aromatherapy may be a safe, low-cost, and easy-to-use option to improve psychological well-being for orthopedic surgery patients in the preoperative period.

Conditions

Preoperative Anxiety; Psychological Stress; Depressive Symptoms; Orthopedic Surgery Patients

Keywords

Anxiety; Depression; Stress; Orthopedic Surgery; Aromatherapy; Non-pharmacological Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Preoperative Anxiety Score (DASS-21)

  Change in preoperative anxiety score, measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The DASS-21 anxiety subscale ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety and lower scores indicating better psychological status. The outcome is defined as the change in the anxiety subscale score from pre-intervention (baseline) to post-intervention in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.

  From baseline (within 2 hours before intervention) to immediately after the 20-minute inhalation session on the day of surgery.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Preoperative Depression Score (DASS-21)

  The data were collected from baseline (within 2 hours before intervention) to immediately after the 20-minute inhalation session on the day of surgery.

Study Arms (2)

Lavender Aromatherapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients in this arm receive inhalation aromatherapy with 100% lavender essential oil in addition to routine preoperative nursing care before orthopedic surgery.

Other: Lavender Essential Oil Inhalation

Control - Room Air

NO INTERVENTION

Patients inhale room air only and receive routine preoperative nursing care, with no aromatherapy administered.

Interventions

Lavender Essential Oil Inhalation OTHER

Patients inhale 100% lavender essential oil applied as two drops on a cotton pad placed approximately 5 cm from the nose for 20 minutes during the preoperative period, in addition to routine preoperative nursing care.

Lavender Aromatherapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 years or older.
• Undergoing major orthopedic surgeries (e.g., total knee replacement, total hip replacement, fracture reduction and fixation).
• Able to read and write in Arabic.
• Male or female patients.
• No apparent cognitive deficit.
• Willing to participate and able to provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Younger than 18 years of age.
• Unable to read or write Arabic.
• Mentally unqualified or with obvious cognitive impairment.
• History of respiratory problems (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) that may be affected by inhalation of essential oils.
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity to lavender essential oil.
• Pregnant women.
• Suffering from severe pain not related to the orthopedic surgery (e.g., burn pain).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan: lead

Study Sites (1)

Al-Bashir Hospital

Amman, 11623, Jordan

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan: https://www.zuj.edu.jo

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological; Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Andaleeb Abu Kamel, PDH

  Faculty of Nursing, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Open-label quasi-experimental study with no masking.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator, Faculty of Nursing

Model Details: Parallel assignment with two groups: lavender aromatherapy versus control (room air only).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 31, 2026
• First Posted: April 7, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2024
• Study Completion: April 30, 2024
• Last Updated: April 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

JO (1)