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Aromatherapy and Essential Oils in Improving Insomnia and Other Symptoms in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Leukemia Undergoing Chemotherapy

The Effect of Aromatherapy on Insomnia and Other Common Cancer Patient Symptoms

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02445378
Enrollment
48
Registered
2015-05-15
Start date
2014-12-28
Completion date
2016-11-05
Last updated
2019-04-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Acute Leukemia, Anorexia, Anxiety, Depression, Dyspnea, Insomnia, Nausea, Pain

Keywords

Aromatherapy, essential oils, Acute Leukemia

Brief summary

This randomized clinical trial studies aromatherapy and essential oils in improving insomnia and other symptoms in patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia. Aromatherapy and essential oils may help improve insomnia and other complications caused by chemotherapy.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Does the addition of aromatherapy by diffusion of essential oils improve insomnia in newly diagnosed, hospitalized leukemia patients? SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Does the addition of aromatherapy by diffusion of essential oils improve other common symptoms in newly diagnosed, hospitalized leukemia patients, including pain, nausea, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety and wellbeing? II. Do newly diagnosed, hospitalized leukemia patients find the use of aromatherapy for symptom management a positive experience? OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups. GROUP I: Patients select between 3 scented essential oils: peppermint, lavender, or chamomile which is diffused in the hospital room from approximately 9 PM in the evening until morning during week 1 and placebo intervention using rose water during week 2. GROUP II: Patients undergo placebo intervention using rose water during week 1 and aromatherapy and essential oils as in Group I during week 2.

Interventions

Undergo aromatherapy and essential oils

OTHERPlacebo

Undergo placebo intervention using rose water

OTHERQuestionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

Sponsors

Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients who are newly diagnosed with acute leukemia and hospitalized to receive their initial 4 weeks of intensive induction chemotherapy for this disease

Exclusion criteria

* Asthma or other reactive airway disease * Sleep apnea * Planned less than two week hospitalization * Change in pain medications/sleeping medications/anxiety medications/antiemetics during the trial * Patients who have not completed their initial steroids * Patients who are confused and unable to give informed consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Improvement of Insomnia graded by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)1 monthStatistical analysis will be performed using a mixed effects linear regression model. This model is designed to test the effects of interest (i.e., the effect of aromatherapy relative to baseline and to placebo) while accounting for the within-subject correlation arising from the repeated measures design. A 20% positive change in PSQI score will be seen as significant.

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Improvement of common symptoms including pain, nausea, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, and wellbeing graded by Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale - revised (ESASr)Baseline to 2 weeks
Rate of positive experience with aromatherapyUp to 2 weeks

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026