NCT07328412

Aromatherapy to Address Psychological Distress in Emergency Department Patients.

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to understand the feasibility and acceptability of a brief aromatherapy session for reducing stress, anxiety, and improving patient satisfaction among emergency department patients. The main question the study aims to answer is: Is the intervention acceptable and feasible? Participants in the intervention group will receive a lavender-scented tube and smell it for about 5 minutes. Participants in the control group will receive an unscented tube and follow the same instructions.

Detailed description

Stress and anxiety are frequently experienced by patients during emergency department (ED) visits, often due to diagnostic uncertainty, prolonged wait times, and environmental factors such as noise and bright lighting. These psychological stressors can trigger physiological responses, including elevated cortisol levels, increased blood pressure, and disrupted sleep, which may negatively impact patients' experiences and overall health outcomes. Aromatherapy has emerged as a promising non-pharmacologic intervention for reducing stress and anxiety in various settings. This pilot randomized controlled trial will be conducted to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a brief aromatherapy session for ED patients. Research staff will pre-screen potential participants admitted to the ED Observation Unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) using information from the electronic medical record. After obtaining approval from the treating medical team, staff will approach and invite potential participants to participate in the study. Once consented and screened eligible, participants will complete a baseline assessment and be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the aromatherapy group or the control group. Participants in the aromatherapy group will receive a lavender-scented tube and be instructed to inhale it for about 5 minutes. Participants in the control group will receive an unscented tube and follow the same instructions. After the session, participants will complete a post-experiment assessment.

Conditions

• Aromatherapy
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Emergency Department

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Lavender Aromatherapy	A diffuser tube containing a cotton wick infused with 5 drops of lavender essential oil.
OTHER	Unscented Aromatherapy	A diffuser tube containing a cotton wick saturated with 10 drops of water.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-30
• Primary completion: 2026-03-30
• Completion: 2026-03-30
• First posted: 2026-01-09
• Last updated: 2026-01-09