The purpose of this randomized pilot study is to collect preliminary data on the impacts of lavender essential oil aromatherapy on the patient-reported quality of pain management provided for the vascular surgery patient population. The investigators hypothesize that individuals who use a lavender aromastick as a part of their pain management plan will report improved perceptions of the quality of their pain management as measured by the Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ-R). Subjects will be randomized to the control (empty aromastick) and intervention group (aromastick infused with lavender oil), and will use this device as an addition to their pain management plan. Additionally, this pilot study will allow the researchers to evaluate the feasibility of a larger randomized control trial, assess the validity of the survey tool, and collect feedback from patients on the acceptability of the aromatherapy intervention as a complementary therapy during their hospital stay.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
6
Vascular surgery patients will be randomized to either the intervention group and receive a lavender infused aromastick to use as an adjunct to their inpatient pain management plan, or to the control group, given a blank aromastick. Subjects will be blinded to their group.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
The primary endpoints for this study are patients' self-reported evaluations of the quality of pain management provided during their hospital stay.
Measured using the Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ-R) survey tool. The APS-POQ-R has 18 primary questions with continuous rating scales from 0 - 10 or from 0% - 100%. This study, with permission from the original authors, uses a modified survey, with 10 questions evaluating the subject's pain levels and degree to which pain interferes with various aspects of their quality of life. In these questions, higher numbers indicate higher levels of pain and distress. Four additional Likert style questions evaluate subjects' satisfaction with pain management, with higher numbers indicating higher levels of satisfaction.
Time frame: Measured on day 6 of hospital stay or day of discharge; whichever is sooner
Subjects' evaluation of the aromastick
Survey questions will also be asked about use of the aromastick to evaluate acceptability of the intervention device. These are yes/no questions, and questions measuring the frequency of device use.
Time frame: Measured on day 6 of hospital stay or day of discharge; whichever is sooner
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