The effect of inhalation of peppermint essential oilon anxiety and acurracy of nursing students in emergency department of Birjand educational hospitals

Abstract

Background: Accuracy and lack of anxiety are two important factors in how nursing student’s work. Various methods, including aromatherapy, have been suggested to reduce anxiety and increase accuracy. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhaling peppermint essential oilon anxiety and accuracy of nursing students in emergency department of Birjandeducational hospitals. Methods: This is a clinical trial study. One drop of peppermint essential oil (experimental group, n = 32) and one drop of sweet almond oil (placebo, n = 32) was poured on the gauze into the mask and inhaled for 20 minutes in 4 days. Both Bonardel Accuracy Questionnaire and Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire were completed by both groups before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software. The study used t-test, paired t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and chi-square test. Results: The results of this study showed that both groups were similar in terms of demographic variables. Paired t-test showed no significant difference between the two groups before and after the intervention (P<0.05). Paired t-test results showed that the mean score of accuracy after the intervention was significantly higher in both groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: Peppermint essential oil compared to the placebo group was able to increase the accuracy of nursing students, which is consistent with the findings of other studies.

Keywords

• accuracy
• anxiety
• aromatherapy
• mint