This single-blind, randomized controlled trial studies how well inhaled essential oils work for common quality of life concerns in patients who are undergoing cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy given through the vein (intravenously). Aromatherapy using essential oils, such as ginger essential oil, German chamomile essential oil, and bergamot essential oil, may improve quality of life issues such as nausea, anxiety, loss of appetite, and fatigue in patients undergoing treatment for cancer.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine if aromatherapy, specifically inhaled essential oil, is beneficial for side effects related to cancer treatments involving chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy administered intravenously. II. To describe the effect of inhaled ginger essential oil, German chamomile essential oil, and bergamot essential oil on nausea and anxiety of patients receiving chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy administered intravenously. III. To describe the effect of decreased levels of nausea and/or anxiety on levels of appetite and/or fatigue. IV. To evaluate the acceptability of using a personal inhalation bottle for inhalation of essential oils. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 4 groups. GROUP I: Patients inhale 7 drops of bergamot essential oil using a personalized inhalation bottle three times daily (TID) (morning, midday, and evening) for up to 7 days. Patients also use a journal to document symptoms, time of inhalation, and medication use TID for up to 7 days. GROUP II: Patients inhale 7 drops of chamomile essential oil and complete journal as in group I. GROUP III: Patients inhale 7 drops of ginger essential oil and complete journal as in group I. GROUP IV (CONTROL): Patients inhale 7 drops of almond essential oil and complete journal as in group I.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
248
Use bergamot essential oil
Use chamomile essential oil
Use ginger essential oil
Use almond essential oil
Complete journal
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Effects of essential oils on nausea and anxiety
Levels of nausea and anxiety will be measured using a numerical grading scale of 0-10. 0 will equal "good" meaning no nausea or anxiety. 10 will equal "horrible" meaning the worst nausea or anxiety. Data for each outcome will be collected 3 times a day, for a total of 21 measurements from each subject. For data analysis, we will compress the 21 measures into 3 scores. Each subject will be given a daily outcome level by averaging the 3 measures. The 7 daily outcome levels will become 3 scores by averaging data from days 1 and 2 (Period 1), days 3 and 4 (Period 2), and days 5, 6, and 7 (Period 3). Using the 3 scores, each outcome will be modeled using a repeated measures regression allowing the variability of outcome scores to vary with period. Period, group membership, the interaction between period and group membership, gender, age, and type of cancer will be model predictors. For each outcome, the contrast of interest will be that between each treatment group and the control group.
Time frame: Up to 7 days
Determine if decreased levels of nausea and/or anxiety effect appetite and/or fatigue
Anticipated results of the study are that patients will report decreased levels of nausea and anxiety. With the decreased levels of nausea and anxiety, we anticipate that patients will report increased levels of appetite and decreased levels of fatigue. Loss of appetite and fatigue will be measured using a numerical grading scale of 0-10. 0 will equal "good" meaning no loss of appetite or fatigue. 10 will equal "horrible" meaning the worst appetite loss or fatigue. Data will be collected, measured, and analyzed in the same manner as Outcome 1.
Time frame: Up to 7 days
Acceptability of using a personal inhalation bottle for inhalation of essential oils - ease of use
The overall ease of using the personal inhalation bottle will be measured through post-study ratings by participants. A numerical rating scale of 1-5 will be used. 1 will equal strongly disagree; 2 will equal disagree; 3 will equal neither agree nor disagree; 4 will equal agree; and 5 will equal strongly agree. The study will compare via a percentage those participants with positive acceptability when compared to those with negative acceptability.
Time frame: Up to 7 days
Acceptability of using a personal inhalation bottle for inhalation of essential oils - utilization post study period
The utilization of the personal inhalation bottle beyond the study period will be measured through post-study ratings by participants. A numerical rating scale of 1-5 will be used. 1 will equal strongly disagree; 2 will equal disagree; 3 will equal neither agree nor disagree; 4 will equal agree; and 5 will equal strongly agree. The study will compare via a percentage those participants with positive acceptability when compared to those with negative acceptability.
Time frame: Up to 7 days
Acceptability of using a personal inhalation bottle for inhalation of essential oils - perception of benefit of essential oil for symptoms
The overall perception of help for symptoms will be measured through post-study ratings by participants. A numerical rating scale of 1-5 will be used. 1 will equal strongly disagree; 2 will equal disagree; 3 will equal neither agree nor disagree; 4 will equal agree; and 5 will equal strongly agree. The study will compare via a percentage those participants with positive acceptability when compared to those with negative acceptability.
Time frame: Up to 7 days
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.