The Effect of Aromatherapy with Citrus Aurantium on the Sleep Quality and Anxiety of Female Nursing Students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences; A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Sleep disorders and anxiety are the most common mental disorders among nursing students. These kind of disorders have negative consequences on the quality of education and care of patients in nursing students. Due to restriction of the use of drugs for management of sleep disorder and anxiety in students, this study carried out in order to investigate the effect of aromatherapy with Citrus Aurantium on the sleep quality and anxiety of female nursing students of Tabriz university of medical sciences. Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial in which 100 female nursing students living in dormitories of Tabriz university of medical sciences were selected in convenience sampling way and randomly divided into two groups, intervention group (n=50) and control (n=50) group. The sleep quality and anxiety in both group were evaluated respectively by Pittsburgh questionnaires and Spielberger questionnaires. Then in the intervention group aromatherapy with Citrus Aurantium was done for 2 weeks (14 nights). In the control group no intervention was done. After the intervention, the sleep quality and anxiety in both groups was evaluated with the same questionnaires. The results of data were analyzed through SPSS13 software and using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: At the beginning of study, the average of total score of sleep quality in the intervention group (7.38±2.12) and in the control group (7.19±2.43) has no significant statistical difference (P=0.403). But after the intervention, the mean score of sleep quality in the intervention group (3.30±0.97) compared with control group (7.73±2.64) has a meaningful difference (P<0.001). Also, the anxiety score before the intervention in aromatherapy group was (46.72±3.87) and in control group was (46.84±4.77) that was not meaningful statistically (P=0/986), and after intervention the amount of anxiety in intervention group (38.38±2.26) compared with control group (47.58±4.03) has a significant reduction (P=0.001) Conclusion: The results of this study showed that inhalation of Citrus Aurantium has desired effect on the sleep quality and anxiety of female bachelor of nursing students living in dormitories. Due to favorable effects of inhalation of Citrus Aurantium essential oil, this method can be used as a useful method to improve the sleep quality and reduce anxiety of students living in dormitories