Effects of Aromatherapy on Sleep Quality in Hospitalized Elderly Female Patients With Insomnia

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of standardized aromatherapy compared with placebo in improving sleep quality among hospitalized elderly female patients with insomnia.

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Key information

Conditions

Insomnia Dyssomnias Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Sleep Wake Disorders

Age range

60 year–100 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Female, aged ≥60 years.
Hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.
Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) >6.
Ability to communicate and understand instructions.
Non-allergic to essential oils.
Fully informed and voluntarily consent to participate.

Exclusion criteria

Cognitive impairment-.
History of hypersensitivity to aromatherapy oils.
Use of sedative-hypnotic medications within past 2 weeks.
Sleep disorders secondary to organic or psychiatric diseases.
Unable to comply with study procedures.

Treatment and study plan

Aromatherapy

Other

Verify patient identity and explain the intervention. Ensure comfortable supine or semi-recumbent position. Drop 2 drops of lavender essential oil onto a sterile cotton ball; place inside disposable urine cup.

Position cup 20 cm from patient's nostrils; instruct patient to perform 10 deep breaths.

Place cup at bedside until morning. Lay treatment cloth under patient's wrists. Apply 1 drop of lavender oil to both thumbs, perform bilateral Shenmen (HT7) acupoint pressure on the wrist Shenmen acupoint pressure for 10 minutes per side, moderate pressure causing mild local distension but no pain.

Restore patient to comfortable position; remove materials; wash hands. Record any immediate reactions or discomfort.

Placebo

Other

Identical procedure using odorless fractionated coconut oil. Sham acupoint pressure on a non-acupoint location near the wrist performed identically to maintain blinding.

Primary outcomes

Athens Insomnia Scale

Time frame: Evaluated at baseline, day 6 and 2-week follow-up.

Total score 0-24; higher scores indicate worse insomnia.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Aromatherapy on Sleep Quality in Hospitalized Elderly Female Patients With Insomnia: Protocol for A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Parallel Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2027
First posted: Jan 28, 2026
Registry last updated: May 27, 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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