Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Effects of blended aromatherapy using lavender and damask rose oils on the test anxiety of nursing students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Narges Hashemi 1
. Fatemeh Nazari 2
. Aref Faghih 3
. Mostafa Forughi 3

1 Department of Adult Health, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Department of Adult Health, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Department of Crisis Management, Faculty Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: People experience extreme anxiety in testing situations, so it considers as a
psychological condition and can actually impair learning and hurt test performance. People experience
some degree of stress and anxiety before and during examinations. This study aimed to investigate
the effect of blended aromatherapy using lavender and damask rose oils on the test anxiety of
nursing students.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a single‑blinded clinical trial study. Seventy
nursing students were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental and sham groups. For
the experimental group, seven droplets of lavender, 10%, and three droplets of damask rose oil,
10%, and for the sham group, ten droplets of sesame oil were poured on a nonabsorbent pad which
was placed within a 20‑cm distance from the students’ noses on their chairs’ handles. The data were
collected by using a two‑part questionnaire including demographic information and State‑Trait Anxiety
Inventory 1, before, 15 min after the intervention, and immediately at the end of the test. Data were
analyzed using descriptive (frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential (independent
t‑test, ANOVA with repeated measure, Fisher’s exact test, and least significant difference post hoc
test) statistics.
RESULTS: It was found that no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, the
number of credits, Semester Grade Point Average and, gender, place of residence and marital
status and the two groups were almost identical in regard of the above variables (P > 0.05). State
anxiety mean scores of the experimental group were lower than the mean scores of the sham group,
15 min after the intervention and at the end of the test, and the difference between the groups was
statistically significant (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Blended aromatherapy is effective in improving the test anxiety of nursing students.
Therefore, it can be used as a therapeutic approach to reduce test anxiety.

Keywords

Aromatherapy
complementary therapy
essential oils
nursing
palliative care
test anxiety
1. von der Embse N, Jester D, Roy D, Post J. Test anxiety effects,
predictors, and correlates: A 30‑year meta‑analytic review. J Affect
Disord 2018;227:483‑93.
2. Akbari M, Shaghaghi F, Behroozian M. The effects of problem
solving skills training on test anxiety among college students.
J Iran Psychol 2011;9:67‑74.
3. Yaryari F, Ghasemi M. The effect of therapeutic touch and muscle
relaxation on state anxiety and trait anxiety. J Res Psychol Health
2010;4:53‑61.
4. GHiasi M, Ehsani E, Mahboubi M. Is Aromatherapy effect on
veteran Students’anxiety? Tebe E Janbaz 2012;4:18‑23.
5. Yazdani F. Test anxiety and academic performance in female
nursing students. Q J Nurs Manag 2012;1:47‑58.
6. Heidari M, Shahbazi S. An assessment of the effect of recitation of
the Quran on exam anxiety in nursing and emergency medicine
students. Strides Dev Med Educ 2018;12:56‑63.
7. Najafi M, Seiamak Dastjerdi A. A review of aromatherapy in
ancient Persia. Iran J Med Ethics Hist Med 2016;8:33‑43.
8. Amini R, Alizadeh F. Investigating musical effects and
aromatherapy on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing surgery. Indian J Forensic Med Toxicol 2018;12:170‑6.
9. Chen MC, Fang SH, Fang L. The effects of aromatherapy in
relieving symptoms related to job stress among nurses. Int J Nurs
Pract 2015;21:87‑93.
10. Perry R, Terry R, Watson LK, Ernst E. Is lavender an anxiolytic
drug? A systematic review of randomised clinical trials.
Phytomedicine 2012;19:825‑35.
11. Venkataramana M, Pratap K, Padma M, Kalyan S, Anitha RA,
Sandhya P. Effect of aromatherapy on dental patient anxiety:
A randomized controlled trial. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent
2016;14:131‑4.
12. Boskabady MH, Shafei MN, Saberi Z, Amini S. Pharmacological
effects of Rosa damascena. Iran J Basic Med Sci 2011;14:295‑307.
13. Marofi M, Sirousfard M, Moeini M, Ghanadi A. Evaluation
of the effect of aromatherapy with Rosa damascena Mill. On
postoperative pain intensity in hospitalized children in selected
hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in
2013: A randomized clinical trial. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res
2015;20:247‑54.
14. Moradi K, Ashtarian H, Darabi F, Ahossein H, Saifi F. A survey
on the efects of lavender aromatherapy on the anxiety and vital
signs of patients with ischemic heart diseases hospitalized
in cardiac intensive care units. J Clin Res Paramed Sci
2016;4:301‑10.
15. Tahmasebi H, Abbasi E, Zafari M, Darvishi H. The impact of
aromatherapy on hemodynamic condition of patients experiencing
coronary angiography. Med Surg Nurs J 2013;2:26‑32.
16. Khoshkesht S, BahramiBabahaidari T, Shiri M, Aghabarari M,
Hajfiroozabadi M, Jalili HRl. The Effect of Aromatherapy
on Level of Exam Anxiety Among Nursing Students in
Alborz University of Medical Sciences. Alborz University
Medical Journal. 2015;4 (2):101–9. https://doi.org/10.18869/
acadpub.aums0.4.2.101
17. Mousavi FS, Golmakani N, Saki A. The relationship between
postoperative pain after cesarean section with pre and
postoperative anxiety. Iran J Obstet Gynaecol Infertil 2016;19:1‑10.
18. Msaeid A, Mahram B, Ezanloo Z. Relationship between
dimensions of perfectionism and trait anxiety in college students.
Res Clin Psychol Couns 2011;1:47‑58.
19. Lee CH, Liu JT, Lin SC, Hsu TY, Lin CY, Lin LY. Effects of
educational intervention on state anxiety and pain in people
undergoing spinal surgery: A randomized controlled trial. Pain
Manag Nurs 2018;19:163‑71.
20. Kavurmacı M, Küçükoğlu S, TanM. Effectiveness of aromatherapy
in reducing test anxiety among nursing students. India J Tradit
Knowl 2015;1:52‑6.
21. Khanavi M, Masoomeh MS, Karimi M. Effects of inhalation
aromatherapy on female students’ anxiety and depression settling
in dormitory of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Med Sci
J Islam Azad Univ Tehran Med Branch 2010;20:175‑81.
22. Ko YJ, Jung MS, Park KS. Effects of aroma inhalation method
on test anxiety, stress response and serum cortisol in nursing
students. J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs 2013;20:410‑8.
23. Bekhradi R, Vakilian K. The effect of lavender aromatherapy
on test anxiety in female students. Curr Womens Health Rev
2016;12:137‑40.
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 8
September 2021
Pages 1-6

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us