| Author: | Tang, Shuk Kwan |
| Title: | The effect of aromathearpy [sic] for older persons with chronic pain |
| Other Title: | The effect of aromatherapy for older persons with chronic pain |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 2013 |
| Subject: | Aromatherapy. Pain in old age -- Treatment. Chronic pain -- Treatment. Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | School of Nursing |
| Pages: | xvi, 128 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Aim: To examine the effectiveness of an aromatherapy programme for the older persons with chronic pain. Design: A quasi-experimental pretest and posttest control group design was adopted in the present study. Participants: There were 83 older persons aged 65 or above were recruited from three community elderly centres. They were divided into intervention group and control group randomly according to centres to prevent cross contamination and exchange of knowledge among themselves. There were 44 participants in the intervention group and 38 in the control group after recruitment. Intervention: A 4-week aromatherapy programme was developed and implemented to the intervention group. Control group remained regular care and their activities in the community elderly centre. Outcome Measures: Outcome measures included pain measured by the Geriatric Pain Assessment, the level of depression, anxiety and stress measured by Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), functional status measured by Timed Up and Go Test and feedback of the aromatherapy programme was collected at the end of the present study. Results: No significant difference was found in the demographic data, pain score, the level of depression, anxiety, stress and functional status between intervention group and control group (p > 0.05) in baseline. The demographic data was found to be similar to the Hong Kong general older populations. There was no statistical significant difference noted in the pain score at baseline and post-intervention assessment in both groups and between group comparisons (p > 0.05). For the intervention group, the pain scores when pain presents and the worst pain in the last 24 hours were 4.75 to 4.66 and 4.77 to 4.59 respectively from baseline to post intervention assessment. For the control group, the pain scores when pain presents and the worst pain in last 24 hours were both 5.24 to 4.79 from baseline to post intervention assessment. The reduction of pain was not significant can be related to the insufficient systemic circulation of essential oils to reach to the pain sites and small sample size of the present study. The level of depression, anxiety and stress were significantly improved after the aromatherapy programme in the intervention group and significant difference was found (p < 0.05), while in the control group there was no significant changes (p > 0.05). The depression, anxiety and stress scores in the intervention group from baseline to post intervention assessment were 11.18 to 7.05, 9.64 to 5.64 and 12.91 to 7.55 respectively. For the control group, the depression, anxiety and stress scores from baseline to post intervention assessment were 12.11 to 12.89, 8.26 to 10.05 and 11.37 to 11.74 respectively. The effectiveness of aromatherapy was demonstrated as the essential oils are antidepressants and relaxants which can relieve the negative emotions among older persons. Pleasant odors can also produce good mood after inhalation. No significant changes were found in the functional status in both groups and between group comparisons at baseline and post-intervention assessment. Community dwelling older persons were in good functional status because they were capable for self care and live in the community. Use of aromatherapy in the intervention group was increased among older persons in the intervention group and they perceived non-pharmacological interventions of pain management were effective. Education and empowerment can equip older persons with knowledge and techniques of using self administered and non-pharmacological interventions of pain management by themselves confidently. Older persons in the intervention group also showed positive feedback to the aromatherapy programme. They can understand the content in the centre-based sessions, as well as can use the aromatic spray at home for pain management. Conclusion: The present study showed pain was reduced in the intervention group, although with no significant difference found when compare with baseline and post-intervention assessment in the intervention group. Aromatherapy is effective in decreasing the level of depression, anxiety and stress in community dwelling older persons in the intervention group, but there was no improvement to the control group. Significant difference was found for between group comparisons at post intervention assessment for depression, anxiety and stress scores in the intervention group. It was found there was increased used of non-pharmacological interventions among older persons after the aromatherapy programme. Therefore, the aromatherapy programme was effective in reducing level of pain, depression, anxiety and stress of community dwelling older persons. It can be promoted among older persons to equip them with knowledge and techniques of administering aromatherapy. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| b26411295.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 1.29 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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