Effect of aromatherapy massage on elderly patients under long-term hospitalization in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the effectiveness of aromatherapy massage on elderly patients under long-term hospitalization.


METHODS
Aromatherapy massage was performed twice a week for a total of eight times.


METHODS
Nursing home.


METHODS
Elderly women under long-term hospitalization.


METHODS
Questionnaire and measurement of stress marker levels (salivary amylase activity) before and after the first, fifth, and eighth aromatherapy massages.


METHODS
Questionnaire (Face scale, General Health Questionnaire-12 [GHQ-12]), measurement of salivary amylase activity.


RESULTS
A decrease in stress after aromatherapy massage compared to before each massage was confirmed at all measurement times and with the stress marker. No marked reduction was observed in Face scale or saliva amylase activity as a whole over the long term, although decreasing tendencies were seen. Marked reductions in GHQ-12 were observed over the long term.


CONCLUSIONS
Aroma massage appears likely to prove effective in reducing psychological stress among elderly patients under long-term hospitalization.
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. satou@phar.toho-u.ac.jp
Tadaaki
T
Satou
Mizuki
M
Chikama
Yoshiko
Y
Chikama
Masato
M
Hachigo
Haruna
H
Urayama
Shio
S
Murakami
Shinichiro
S
Hayashi
Kazuo
K
Koikem
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D019341:Aromatherapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000681:Amylases