title: Inhalation aromatherapy in children and adolescents undergoing stem cell infusion: results of a placebo-controlled double-blind trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Though often lifesaving, stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a period of great distress for both child and parent.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study evaluating the effect of the respiratory administration of bergamot essential oil on the anxiety, nausea, and pain of 37 pediatric patients with malignant and non-malignant disorders undergoing stem cell infusion and their parents. Patients were assessed at the time of recruitment, prior to infusion, upon infusion completion, and one hour post-infusion using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for parents and the STAIC, Children's Behavioral Style Scale (CBSS), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and nausea, and the Emotionality Activity Sociability and Impulsivity instrument (EASI) for children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children and adolescents in the treatment group experienced greater anxiety (p = 0.05) and nausea (p = 0.03) one hour post-infusion. Reported pain in both groups was no longer significant one hour post-infusion. Parental anxiety declined in both groups but did not reach statistical significance. Child's monitoring coping style was significantly predictive of transitory anxiety post-infusion (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this trial did not report a benefit of inhalation aromatherapy for reducing anxiety, nausea, or pain when added to standard supportive care, it provides the first experimental rather than descriptive report on testing a single therapeutic essential oil among children and adolescents undergoing stem cell infusion. Future research may consider exploring the cutaneous application of essential oil through massage or other psychoeducational counseling interventions among parents with elevated anxiety and patients with greater information seeking coping styles during SCT.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ndao
authors.forename: Elena J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ladas
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sands
authors.forename: Kathryn T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Garvin
authors.forename: Kara M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D019341:Aromatherapy; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; C068336:bergamot oil