Abdominal Surgical Patients Randomized to Aromatherapy for Pain Management.

PURPOSE: Evaluate aromatherapy for postoperative abdominal pain in hospitalized patients. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial design. METHODS: Study participants (n = 172) were randomized to receive either standard care or standard care and aromatherapy (AT) for postsurgical pain up to 24 hours after admission to a nonintensive care surgical unit. A convenience sample was recruited before surgery and given instructions on self-rating pain intensity. The AT group was topically administered a drop of lavender essential oil after medication and at random for pain. Pain scores and medications data were collected. FINDINGS: Of the evaluable patients (n = 147), demographic data were similar (standard care and AT groups). The use of aromatherapy showed no substantial benefit at improving pain scores or reducing medication use (the primary objectives of the study). A subgroup analysis of patients who received a regional nerve block for pain management, however, showed more than fivefold improvement in pain scores after the use of aromatherapy. The AT group used more medications at baseline (P = .032), whereas 70% less medications were used (P = .031) by 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Aromatherapy aided in control of pain intensity for abdominal surgical patients. In patients who received a regional nerve block, significant improvement in pain level occurred as effects of the block diminished.

A Comparison of Aromatherapy to Standard Care for Relief of PONV and PDNV in Ambulatory Surgical Patients.

PURPOSE: To determine effectiveness of aromatherapy (AT) compared with standard care (SC) for postoperative and postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PONV/PDNV) in ambulatory surgical patients. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. METHODS: Patients (n = 254) received either SC or AT for PONV and interviewed for effectiveness of PDNV. Machine learning methods (eight algorithms) were used to evaluate. FINDING: Of patients (64 of 221) that experienced PONV, 52% were in the AT group and 48% in the SC group. The majority were satisfied with treatment (timely, P = .60; effectiveness, P = .86). Of patients that experienced PDNV, treatment was 100% effective in the AT group and 67% in the SC group. The cforest algorithm was used to develop a model for predicting PONV with literature-based risk factors (0.69 area under the curve). CONCLUSIONS: AT is an effective way to manage PONV/PDNV. Gender and age were the most important predictors of PONV.

A Spiritual Care Toolkit: An evidence-based solution to meet spiritual needs.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine differences between baseline spiritual perspectives of nurses, patients and their families and examine the effectiveness of a spiritual care (SC) toolkit as an intervention to facilitate meeting spiritual needs of hospitalised patients and families. BACKGROUND: Provision of SC by nurses in the acute care environment is an issue of high priority for patients. Nurses report lack of time, comfort, training, cultural knowledge and mobilisation of resources as obstacles to SC delivery. Evidence points to positive patient outcomes and patient satisfaction, yet few studies include interventions to help nurses meet spiritual needs of patients and families. DESIGN: Descriptive and quasi-experimental design. METHODS: Patients, family members (n = 132) and nurses (n = 54) were administered SC surveys while hospitalised on two acute care units of a Midwest hospital system in the United States. Population represented patients suffering acute, chronic and terminal illness. Data collected over a 13-week period examined relationships between the groups spiritual perspectives and the effectiveness of a SC toolkit intervention. RESULTS: Significant differences between nurse-patient and nurse-family groups were found, whereas no significant differences existed between patient-family groups. A pretest-posttest revealed the SC toolkit aided in overcoming obstacles to nurses' SC delivery. Patients and their family members found the SC toolkit helpful. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest an evidence-based SC toolkit has the propensity to help nurses meet spiritual needs of hospitalised patients and families. However, successful implementation and sustainability require organisational support, funding for resources and SC training for staff. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A SC toolkit supplied with culturally sensitive faith resources supporting what patients and families value, believe and practice can be easily customised and implemented by any healthcare organisation in the world. Further investigation of SC toolkit effectiveness using multiple sites is recommended.