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NCT Number: NCT07771205

Aromatherapy and Its Impact on Preoperative Anxiety, Postoperative Pain, and Patient Experience

Aromatherapy's Impact on Preoperative Anxiety, Postoperative Pain, and Patient Experience

Introduction:

Surgery often results in increased levels of anxiety and postoperative pain. Postoperative pain relief is typically treated with opioids. However, evidence shows that treatment with opioids alone is often insufficient to provide adequate levels of pain relief and can contribute to the growing opioid crisis. Alternative pain management strategies that combine narcotic medication with complementary therapies can improve comfort as well as decrease preoperative anxiety. Aromatherapy is an evidence-based complementary therapy used to decrease preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain that has been underutilized in ambulatory surgical centers. This study aimed to evaluate the impact Aromatherapy has as an anxiety and pain management strategy. Subsequently, evidence also supports that improving the patient experience can lead to better surgical outcomes.

Study Aim:

This study will examine the effect that aromatherapy has on preoperative anxiety, postoperative pain and patient experience

Study Question(s):

In perioperative patients at Kaiser Stockton Ambulatory Surgery Unit, how does aromatherapy, compared with standard practice, affect preoperative anxiety?

In perioperative patients at Kaiser Stockton Ambulatory Surgery Unit, how does aromatherapy, compared with standard practice, affect postoperative pain?

In perioperative patients at Kaiser Stockton Ambulatory Surgery Unit, how does aromatherapy, compared with standard practice, affect patient experience?

Study Method: Prospective Experimental Randomized Control Clinical Trial

Study Duration: 18 months

Study Process: The participants will be recruited through their Pre-surgery interview, at which time a brief explanation will be given on aromatherapy, its potential to reduce preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain, and increase the patient experience. The study design and protocol will also be described. Should the participants elect to participate in this study, they will be randomly assigned using a computer program. Upon arrival for surgery, informed consent will be obtained. Anxiety and pain will be assessed for pre- and post- intervention and just before transferring to the operating room (OR). Upon arrival to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), pain will be assessed in 15-minute intervals until discharge. Anxiety will be reassessed at discharge. Experience will be assessed 2 weeks after discharge.

Data Analysis:

A one-way Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) will be used to assess the impact of aromatherapy on pain, anxiety, and satisfaction.

Conclusions:

This study aims to add to the body of knowledge of how the incorporation of aromatherapy can impact patient outcomes.

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Key information

Conditions

Postoperative Pain Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pain, Postoperative Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Patient Experience Postoperative Complications Preoperative Anxiety Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kaiser Permanente Stockton Ambulatory Surgery Unit

Stockton, California, 95210, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Kristie L Silva, MSN

CONTACT

[email protected]

209-476-3002

Kristie L Silva, MSN

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Stevie Sparrey, MSN

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Able to speak, read, understand, and write in English or Spanish
  • Undergoing a surgical procedure under general anesthesia
  • Able to provide informed consent independently

Exclusion criteria

  • Cataract and other ocular surgeries
  • Allergies to aromatherapy ingredients
  • Chronic pain management
  • Olfactory deficits

Treatment and study plan

Aromatherapy

Other

An aromatherapy pod with the blend of Lavendar and Sweet Orange, which has been identified as aiding with stress, pain, and anxiety.

Unscented Pod

Other

An unscented "aromatherapy" pod that looks identical to the active intervention.

Primary outcomes

  1. Preoperative Anxiety

    Time frame: Prior to the intervention, the participant will assess their baseline anxiety using the Preoperative Anxiety Scale-7, re-evaluated prior to transfer to the OR after intervention is applied, and again at discharge. All on Day 1, date of surgery.

    Assessed using the Preoperative Anxiety Scale-7. This is a 7 question 5-point Likert scale with the values of 0 to 4, 0 being no anxiety and 4 being the highest anxiety. There are a possible total of 28 points, which would be assessed as the highest level of anxiety measurement possible. The lowest possible is 0.

  2. Verbalized Postoperative Pain

    Time frame: Assessed upon arrival to preop and prior to intervention, for a baseline. Reassessment after intervention and prior to transfer to OR, upon arrival to PACU, 15-minute intervals until ready to discharge, and at discharge. All on Day 1, date of surgery.

    Measured using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale (WB). The WB scale has a low-end value of 0, indicating no pain, and a high-end value of 10, indicating the most pain. WB can be measured in whole numbers from 0-10.

  3. Patient Experience

    Time frame: 1 week after date of surgery. The questionnaire should take 5- 10 minutes to complete. The patient is called at home by a study nurse.

    Patients are asked to evaluate their experience using study-specific designed 5-point Likert scale consisting of 7-8 questions. Questions asked are: "How well was aromatherapy explained?", "How would you rate your overall aromatherapy experience?", "How well did aromatherapy help you to relax before surgery?", How well did aromatherapy help your pain before surgery?" (if pain was present at baseline assessment), "How well did aromatherapy help your pain after surgery?", "How likely are you to continue to use aromatherapy for anxiety management at home?", and "How likely are you to continue to use aromatherapy for anxiety management at home?" The low-end value is 1 and the high-end value is 5. Question 5 will only be asked if preoperative pain was present. There is a minimum of 8 and maximum of 40 for 8 questions (preop pain present), and a minimum of 7 and maximum of 35 for 7 questions (no preop pain present).

  4. Non-verbal Postoperative Pain

    Time frame: Assessed upon arrival to preop and prior to intervention, for a baseline. Reassessment after intervention and prior to transfer to OR, upon arrival to PACU, 15-minute intervals until ready to discharge, and at discharge. All on Day 1, date of surgery.

    Checklist of Non-verbal Pain Indicators (CNPI) scale. The CNPI scale has a low-end value of 0, indicating no pain, and a high-end value of 6, indicating the most pain. This scale assesses for non-verbal characteristics that could identify when pain is present when the patient cannot articulate their pain through WB scale. One point is awarded for each behavior observed with a possible score of 0-6. This scale can also be assessed "at rest" or "with activity".

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kaiser Permanente

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Aromatherapy and Its Impact on Preoperative Anxiety, Postoperative Pain, and Patient Experience: A Randomized Control Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Aug 18, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 18, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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