title: Effect of lavender aromatherapy on vital signs and perceived quality of sleep in the intermediate care unit: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sleep deprivation in hospitalized patients is common and can have serious detrimental effects on recovery from illness. Lavender aromatherapy has improved sleep in a variety of clinical settings, but the effect has not been tested in the intermediate care unit.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of inhalation of 100% lavender oil on patients' vital signs and perceived quality of sleep in an intermediate care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted in 50 patients. Control patients received usual care. The treatment group had 3 mL of 100% pure lavender oil in a glass jar in place at the bedside from 10 pm until 6 am. Vital signs were recorded at intervals throughout the night. At 6 am all patients completed the Richard Campbell Sleep Questionnaire to assess quality of sleep.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood pressure was significantly lower between midnight and 4 am in the treatment group than in the control group (P = .03) According to the overall mean change score in blood pressure between the baseline and 6 am measurements, the treatment group had a decrease in blood pressure and the control group had an increase; however, the difference between the 2 groups was not significant (P = .12). Mean overall sleep score was higher in the intervention group (48.25) than in the control group (40.10), but the difference was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lavender aromatherapy may be an effective way to improve sleep in an intermediate care unit.
authors.affiliation: Jamie Lytle and Catherine Mwatha are nurse clinicians and Karen K. Davis is director of nursing, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lytle
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mwatha
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D019341:Aromatherapy; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027523:Lavandula; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C045718:lavender oil