The Effect of Aromatherapy on the Insulin Injection Pain

The Effect of Topically Administered Lavender Aromatherapy on the Pain of Insulin Injection in Diabetic Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Needle phobia occurs in more than half of diabetic patients due to the pain caused by frequent insulin injection. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of topically administered lavender aromatherapy on the pain of insulin injection in diabetic patients.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a serious chronic disease that negatively affects the quality of life. To control the course of the disease and to reduce its complications, insulin treatment is planned for the whole life of Type 1 diabetic patients, and frequently for approximately 40% of Type 2 diabetic patients. Frequent or incorrect administration of insulin injections may lead to the development of complications such as regional pain, ecchymosis, or hematoma on the injection site. It is emphasized that the pain caused by repeated insulin injections negatively affects the psychological well-being of the individuals as well as their physical comfort. Pain control is one of the main tasks of nurses. By alleviating pain, the patient's acceptance of treatment increases, and thus the quality of life improves. In the literature, lavender is reported to have the ability to heal burns and insect bites as well as analgesic, wound healing, antibacterial, antifungal, sedative, and antidepressant effects. The main components of lavender, such as lavender and linalyl acetate and linalool, are also recommended as topical analgesics in animal models. Whatever the cause, acute pain is a serious problem for individuals with chronic illnesses. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of topically administered lavender aromatherapy on the pain of insulin injection in diabetic patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• being 18 years of age or older,
• having Type-1 DM or Type-2 DM disease,
• being conscious and communicating, not having mental and cognitive impairment,
• not having eczema and fragrance allergy to lavender,
• not having an alcohol or narcotic addiction,
• not having a head injury or convulsion history,
• not having a diabetes-related neuropathy, and
• if the patient took sedatives or analgesics, at least 6 hours would pass,

Exclusion Criteria:

• having a history of addiction or diagnosed psychological disorders,
• having an unstable hemodynamic status,
• having skin disease symptoms such as wounds and eczema at the insulin injection site and,
• having an allergy to lavender.