Effect of Aromatherapy on Patient Comfort in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit: A Pilot Study

• Grant number: 25/07277-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Rizzo Gnatta
• Grantee: Vitória Regina Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem (EE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Comfort is a state of lasting tranquility, associated with feelings of contentment and well-being, which can be compromised by the presence of postoperative pain. Aromatherapy is an integrative and complementary health practice that can be used as a nursing intervention for the non-pharmacological management of pain and, therefore, contribute to the improvement of the individual's well-being.Objective: To evaluate the effect of aromatherapy, with lavender essential oil, on the comfort of adult patients in the post-anesthesia care unit.Method: Pilot study to be conducted in the post-anesthesia care unit of a teaching hospital. A total of 50 adult patients classified as ASA 1, 2 or 3, undergoing procedures of any surgical specialty, with intraoperative duration of up to 6 hours, under general anesthesia or sedation, will be included. Randomization into two groups: group 1, control, will receive standard care; group 2, intervention, will receive standard care associated with 2% lavender essential oil aromatherapy. Pain will be assessed and vital signs measured at 6 time points after admission to the PACU. Comfort will be assessed using the Patient Evaluation of Emotional Comfort Experience (PEECE) instrument. Possible associations between variables will be analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. A 5% significance level will be considered. The project will be submitted to the Research Ethics Committees of the School of Nursing of USP and the University Hospital of USP.Expected results: It is expected to verify and measure the effect of aromatherapy, with lavender essential oil, on the comfort of adult patients in the immediate postoperative period and, thus, to increase the body of evidence on the use of complementary therapies in the context of perioperative care.