The Effectiveness of Lavender Aromatherapy Combined With Slow Breathing Exercises in Improving Occupational Burnout and Sleep Disorders Among Nursing Staff
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Tri-Service General Hospital
- Enrollment
- 70
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Nursing Burnout Scale, NBS
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study investigates the effects of breathing exercises combined with lavender essential oil inhalation on occupational burnout and sleep disturbances in rotating shift nurses.
Detailed Description
This study will adopt a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design targeting rotating shift nurses with at least six months of clinical experience at a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Eligible participants who consent to join the study will be randomly assigned into five groups using block randomization. The randomization process will be conducted via sealed envelopes to allocate participants into the following groups: Experimental Group 1, Experimental Group 2, Experimental Group 3, Breathing-Only Group, and Control Group.
Experimental Group 1: Participants will receive slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) once daily before bedtime, combined with the inhalation of 3 drops of natural lavender essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.
Experimental Group 2: Same breathing protocol as above, with 3 drops of linalyl acetate-containing essential oil.
Experimental Group 3: Same breathing protocol, with 3 drops of linalool-containing essential oil.
Breathing-Only Group: Participants will perform slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime, without any essential oil inhalation, for 4 weeks.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Care Provider)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 20 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Aged between 20 and 65 years Registered nurses with at least 6 months of clinical experience and currently working rotating shifts Scores ≥1 in each of the three dimensions (emotional exhaustion, reduced personal accomplishment, depersonalization) on the Nursing Burnout Scale (NBS) Willing to participate in the study and accept random assignment
Exclusion Criteria
- •Nurses with less than 6 months of clinical experience Individuals with anosmia or reduced sense of smell Diagnosed with psychiatric disorders Allergic to lavender essential oil Not currently working rotating shifts
Arms & Interventions
Control Group
Participants will maintain their usual lifestyle without any intervention.
Breathing-Only Group
Participants will perform slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime, without any essential oil inhalation, for 4 weeks.
Intervention: Slow Breathing Exercises (Behavioral)
Experimental Group 1
Participants will receive slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) once daily before bedtime, combined with the inhalation of 3 drops of natural lavender essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.
Intervention: Slow Breathing Exercises (Behavioral)
Experimental Group 1
Participants will receive slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) once daily before bedtime, combined with the inhalation of 3 drops of natural lavender essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.
Intervention: Lavender Essential Oil Inhalation (Behavioral)
Experimental Group 2
Same breathing protocol as above, with 3 drops of linalyl acetate-containing essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.
Intervention: Slow Breathing Exercises (Behavioral)
Experimental Group 2
Same breathing protocol as above, with 3 drops of linalyl acetate-containing essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.
Intervention: linalyl acetate essential oil Inhalation (Behavioral)
Experimental Group 3
Same breathing protocol, with 3 drops of linalool-containing essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.
Intervention: Slow Breathing Exercises (Behavioral)
Experimental Group 3
Same breathing protocol, with 3 drops of linalool-containing essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.
Intervention: linalool essential oil Inhalation (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Nursing Burnout Scale, NBS
Time Frame: At baseline, and at 4 and 8 weeks following the start of intervention
The Nurse Burnout Inventory is specifically developed based on nurses' clinical practice experiences. It includes items that reflect three key dimensions: emotional exhaustion resulting from the high-tension clinical work environment, reduced personal accomplishment associated with feelings of ineffectiveness in medical care, and depersonalization, characterized by indifference toward others due to prolonged burnout.
Secondary Outcomes
- The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, CPSQI(At baseline, and at 4 and 8 weeks following the start of intervention)
Investigators
Chen, Yao-Hsiang
Assistant hand nurse
Tri-Service General Hospital