Effect of Agarwood (Aquilaria Sinensis) Inhalation Aromatherapy on Workplace Fatigue and Sleep Quality Among Hospital Employees: A Randomized Controlled Trial

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT07188831

Da-Yeh University78 enrolled

Overview

Hospital staff often experience workplace fatigue and poor sleep quality, which can harm their health, reduce job performance, and increase risks to patient safety. Aromatherapy is a simple, non-invasive complementary therapy that may help reduce fatigue and improve sleep. Agarwood (Aquilaria spp.) has calming and relaxing properties, but there is little clinical research on its effectiveness for hospital staff. This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial will evaluate whether agarwood aromatherapy inhalation can improve fatigue and sleep quality among hospital employees in Taiwan. About 78 participants will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1. Experimental group: Agarwood sachet containing agarwood wood chips and essential oil. 2. Control group: Placebo sachet containing almond oil. Participants will place the sachet about 60 cm from the nose during sleep for 7 nights. Data will be collected using questionnaires on workplace fatigue and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI). The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Does agarwood aromatherapy reduce workplace fatigue in hospital staff? 2. Does agarwood aromatherapy improve sleep quality compared with placebo? Findings are expected to provide scientific evidence for using agarwood inhalation as a safe and convenient strategy to improve staff well-being and support a healthier hospital environment.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Fatigue

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * ≥20 years old, hospital employee working ≥30 hrs/week, employed ≥3 months * Not using sedatives/hypnotics * Normal olfactory function (verified with coffee/vinegar smell test) * Clear consciousness, can read and understand Chinese, no major communication barriers * Not participating in other aromatherapy or relaxation intervention studies Exclusion Criteria: * Major psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression, schizophrenia) * Malignancy under active radio/chemotherapy * CNS diseases (e.g., brain tumor) * History of asthma, fragrance allergy, pregnancy * Chronic rhinitis, nasal surgery, anosmia * Permanent night-shift workers (≥ midnight to 5am, as defined by ILO, 1995)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Workplace Fatigue

Change in fatigue levels measured by the Chinese version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (21 items across four domains: personal, work-related, client-related, and overcommitment). Higher scores indicate greater fatigue.

Time frame: Baseline and after 1-week intervention

Secondary Outcomes

Sleep Quality

Change in sleep quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI, 19 items, 7 domains). Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality.