The Effect of Different Essential Oils in Stoma Bags on Deodorization, Life Satisfaction, Stoma Adaptation in Individuals With Colostomy

There are commercially available products that health insurance does not pay for to eliminate the odor caused by gas and stool output in patients with colostomy. The limited variety of these products in our country makes it difficult for patients to access the product. In addition, it was seen in the patient feedback that they thought these products had chemical content and were worried that they would damage the colostomy. For these reasons, there was a need to search for more accessible, affordable, and non-chemical products. Essential oils are volatile, aromatic, concentrated oily liquids taken from the essence of various plant parts. Research results on the antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidative, and antimutagenic effects of plant essential oils are generally positive. Lavender essential oil and peppermint essential oil have been used in the past, for reasons such as creating a pleasant smell, providing wound healing, antibacterial and anxiolytic properties, and improving the quality of life. For this reason, it is accepted that the use of herbal essential oil and extract can be one effective solution. In the study of Kazemi et al. (2021); Lavender essential oil has also been found to be effective in wound healing. In Duluklu's (2018) study on patients with colostomy, it was determined that there was a significant improvement in the living conditions of the experimental group formed by dripping lavender oil into the colostomy bag. It was observed that there was a significant difference between the stoma compliance scale acceptance sub-dimension and the overall stoma compliance mean score. In rainbow trout, Metin et al. (2015), in his study; They found that the use of peppermint oil did not cause any toxic effects on fish. Anderson et al.) in a randomized double-blind study with individuals experiencing postoperative nausea and vomiting, given lisinopril alcohol, peppermint oil, and placebo (saline) effective products, and nausea determined at the second and fifth minutes following inhalation of peppermint oil applied to gauze before the application of peppermint oil extract. It was determined that it decreased significantly according to the feeling of nausea. In literature reviews; There are limited studies on using lavender essential oil for odor removal in individuals with colostomy. There is no use of peppermint essential oil. Using lavender oil and peppermint oil in a stoma bag is a simple, natural, and low-cost method for odor removal.