title: The effect of topical application of lavender essential oil on the intensity of pain caused by the insertion of dialysis needles in hemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients undergoing hemodialysis experience constant fear and anxiety due to the pain of the insertion of dialysis needles, which might lead to certain physiological and psychological complications for them in the long term. It is therefore essential to control their pain through a simple, safe method.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to determine the effect of the topical application of lavender essential oil on the intensity of pain during the insertion of dialysis needles in hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This open crossover study was conducted on 34 hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) admitted to the dialysis unit of one of the hospitals of Semnan University of Medical Sciences in 2013. The intensity of pain was measured in all the patients in three different states during the insertion of arterial needles for hemodialysis: (1) The topical application of 100% lavender essential oil, (2) no intervention, (3) placebo (with water).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain intensity was measured in this study through the numeric rating scale (NRS) of pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings showed that the mean±SD of pain intensity was 2.91±1.69 with the topical application of lavender, 4.59±2.02 in the no intervention state and 4.18±1.66 with the placebo state. Statistical tests showed a significant difference between the patients' intensity of pain in the three different states (p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the findings of the study, the topical application of lavender decreases moderate intensities of pain during the insertion of dialysis needles. Accordingly, lavender oil may be an option to reduce pain by insertion of hemodialysis needles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ghods
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Neda Hoseini
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Abforosh
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Social Determinants of Health and Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Raheb
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Electronic address: asgari5000@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Asgari
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027523:Lavandula; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C045718:lavender oil
keywords: Hemodialysis; Lavender; Needle; Pain