Effect Of Peppermint Essence On The Pain And Anxiety Caused By Intravenous Catheterization In Cardiac Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: The effects of the peppermint essence on the pain and anxiety caused by intravenous catheterization have not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to determine effect of inhaling peppermint essence on the pain and anxiety. METHODS: In this study, 80 cardiac patients were selected through convenient sampling and randomly allocated to aromatherapy and control groups. Data gathering tools were numeric pain rating scale and visual analogue scale for anxiety. The aromatherapy and control groups received inhaled aromatherapy with peppermint essence and distilled water, respectively. RESULTS: Mean severity of the pain in the aromatherapy and control groups was 2.95±0.98 and 3.42±1.33, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.048). The mean score of anxiety before the intervention in the aromatherapy and control groups was 3.75±1.08 and 4.70±1.43, respectively; these figures after the intervention were 2.32±0.97 and 2.10±1.42, respectively. The two groups were not significantly different before and after the intervention in terms of the level of anxiety. However, the level of anxiety before and after the intervention was significantly different in each group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy attenuated the pain and anxiety caused by intravenous catheterization. Before catheterization, peppermint essence aromatherapy is recommended.