Clinical trial NCT06914167: The Effectiveness of Lavender Aromatherapy Combined With Slow Breathing Exercises in Improving Occupational Burnout and Sleep Disorders Among Nursing Staff
Official title: The Effectiveness of Lavender Aromatherapy Combined With Slow Breathing Exercises in Improving Occupational Burnout and Sleep Disorders Among Nursing Staff
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Phase: NA
Conditions: Sleep Wake Disorders
Keywords: Sleep Wake Disorders
Lead sponsor: Tri-Service General Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-04-06
Enrollment: 70
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 20
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Brief summary: This study investigates the effects of breathing exercises combined with lavender essential oil inhalation on occupational burnout and sleep disturbances in rotating shift nurses.

Detailed description: This study will adopt a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design targeting rotating shift nurses with at least six months of clinical experience at a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Eligible participants who consent to join the study will be randomly assigned into five groups using block randomization. The randomization process will be conducted via sealed envelopes to allocate participants into the following groups: Experimental Group 1, Experimental Group 2, Experimental Group 3, Breathing-Only Group, and Control Group.

Experimental Group 1: Participants will receive slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) once daily before bedtime, combined with the inhalation of 3 drops of natural lavender essential oil on a towel, for 3 minutes, over a 4-week period.

Experimental Group 2: Same breathing protocol as above, with 3 drops of linalyl acetate-containing essential oil.

Experimental Group 3: Same breathing protocol, with 3 drops of linalool-containing essential oil.

Breathing-Only Group: Participants will perform slow breathing training (6 breaths per minute) for 3 minutes daily before bedtime, without any essential oil inhalation, for 4 weeks.

Control Group: Participants will maintain their usual lifestyle without any intervention.

The outcomes will be evaluated using a nurse burnout scale and a sleep quality scale. Measurements will be taken at three time points: baseline (pre-test), 4 weeks after the intervention (post-test 1), and 8 weeks after the intervention (follow-up/post-test 2).

The study is co-led by Yao-Hsiang Chen, Assistant Head Nurse at Tri-Service General Hospital Songshan Branch, and Professor Chia-Hui Lin, School of Nursing, National Defense Medical Center.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Aged between 20 and 65 years Registered nurses with at least 6 months of clinical experience and currently working rotating shifts Scores ≥1 in each of the three dimensions (emotional exhaustion, reduced personal accomplishment, depersonalization) on the Nursing Burnout Scale (NBS) Willing to participate in the study and accept random assignment

Exclusion Criteria:

Nurses with less than 6 months of clinical experience Individuals with anosmia or reduced sense of smell Diagnosed with psychiatric disorders Allergic to lavender essential oil Not currently working rotating shifts

Primary outcomes:
measure: Nursing Burnout Scale, NBS
timeFrame: At baseline, and at 4 and 8 weeks following the start of intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, CPSQI
timeFrame: At baseline, and at 4 and 8 weeks following the start of intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Taipei City
country: Taiwan
facility: Tri-Service General Hospital, Songshan Branch
state: Taipei
Study officials:
References:
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