Aromatherapy Essential Oils to Manage Anxiety and Nausea in Cancer Patients Receiving Infusion in the Ambulatory Setting

Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the feasibility of utilizing aromatherapy essential oils during outpatient infusions.

II. To assess satisfaction of patients receiving aromatherapy essential oils during outpatient infusions.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To observe whether aromatherapy essential oils (compared to placebo aromatherapy) influence an increase or decrease in nausea in patients undergoing moderate-risk and a high-risk emetogenic chemotherapy regimen.

II. To observe whether aromatherapy essential oils (compared to placebo aromatherapy) influence an increase or decrease in anxiety in patients receiving infusions in the outpatient setting.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 4 arms.

ARM I: Patients inhale peppermint essential oil via the personal inhalation device (PID) once every hour starting on day 1 during their anti-cancer/chemotherapy infusions. Patients continue to inhale the peppermint essential oil via the PID at least three times a day for 4 days.

ARM II: Patients inhale lavender essential oil via the PID once every hour starting on day 1 during their anti-cancer/chemotherapy infusions. Patients continue to inhale the lavender essential oil via the PID at least three times a day for 4 days.

ARM III: Patients inhale ginger essential oil via the PID once every hour starting on day 1 during their anti-cancer/chemotherapy infusions. Patients continue to inhale the ginger essential oil via the PID at least three times a day for 4 days.

ARM IV: Patients inhale placebo jojoba essential oil via the PID once every hour starting on day 1 during their anti-cancer/chemotherapy infusions. Patients continue to inhale the placebo jojoba essential oil via the PID at least three times a day for 4 days.

After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up at day 25.