Holistic Aromatherapy Applications in Postoperative Pain Management by Nurses: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Background: Postoperative pain remains a significant clinical challenge, with conventional pharmacological management often leading to adverse effects like sedation, respiratory depression, and potential for dependency. This has accelerated the search for complementary and integrative therapies. Aromatherapy, the controlled use of essential oils for therapeutic purposes, is increasingly employed by nurses as a non-pharmacological intervention to manage acute pain, leveraging the nursing profession's holistic model of care. Aim: This narrative review aims to synthesize and critically evaluate the current evidence on the application of holistic aromatherapy by nurses for postoperative pain management. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO for articles published between 2013 and 2024. Keywords included "aromatherapy," "essential oils," "postoperative pain," "nursing," "non-pharmacological intervention," and "integrative medicine." Results: The findings indicate that aromatherapy, particularly using oils like lavender, bergamot, and peppermint, shows promise in reducing self-reported pain intensity and anxiety, and in decreasing the requirement for rescue analgesics. The primary proposed mechanisms involve the olfactory system's connection to the limbic system and the modulation of pain pathways. However, the evidence is limited by methodological heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and challenges in blinding. Nursing assessments for patient suitability and adherence to safety protocols are identified as critical for successful implementation. Conclusion: Aromatherapy represents a valuable, low-risk adjunct to conventional postoperative pain management within the nursing scope of practice. To solidify its place in evidence-based practice, future research must prioritize rigorous, large-scale randomized controlled trials with standardized interventions and objective outcome measures.
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Authors
Copyright (c) 2024 Sultan Dughaylib Almutairi, Marwan Saad Altokhais, Saud Nasser Alotaibi, Abdullah Rashed Al-Humyani, Abdulhamid Ali Hassan Alfaify, Gadeer Mesfer Alqahtani, Danah Abduaziz Bin Kasmoul
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