Lavender Sandalwood Aromatherapy Study | NCT07737392

NCT07737392

Overview

NCT ID: NCT07737392
Lead Sponsor: Memorial Hermann Health SystemOTHER
Official Title: Does Aromatherapy Improve Mood and Reduce Pain in Women After Scheduled Cesarean Procedures?
Brief Summary: The purpose of this randomized controlled study is to explore whether lavender sandalwood aromatherapy can support comfort, mood, pain relief, and overall satisfaction for participants recovering from a scheduled cesarean section without complications. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

How does lavender sandalwood aromatherapy affect participants' mood during postpartum recovery after a cesarean section?

Does lavender sandalwood aromatherapy help reduce pain during recovery?

Does lavender sandalwood aromatherapy improve participants' overall satisfaction with their recovery experience? Researchers will compare participants who receive lavender-sandalwood aromatherapy with those who do not to determine whether it improves mood, reduces pain, and enhances patient satisfaction.

Participants will be asked to:

Wear aromatherapy tabs on their gown for 24 hours.

Have the aromatherapy tabs applied 24 hours after the cesarean section and removed 48 hours after the cesarean section.

Complete surveys at 24 hours and 48 hours after the cesarean section. This will apply to both the control and intervention groups.

Status and Timeline

Status: Not yet recruiting
Last Update Posted: Jul 30, 2026Actual
Start Date: Sep 2026Estimated
Primary Completion Date: Aug 2027Estimated
Completion Date

Participation Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: Adult (18-64)Older Adult (65+)
Sexes Eligible for Study: Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No
Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

To be eligible for participation in the study, individuals must have a cesarean section scheduled in advance and must be admitted to the postpartum unit following their delivery. Additionally, potential participants are required to undergo pre-admission testing. Patients who meet all these conditions-having a planned cesarean procedure, admission to the postpartum unit after delivery, and completion of pre-admission testing within the specified days-will be considered for enrollment in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

Individuals will be excluded from participation in the study if they meet any of the following criteria: First, patients who have an allergy or hypersensitivity to essential oils, including but not limited to lavender or sandalwood, will not be eligible due to the potential risk of adverse reactions associated with exposure to these substances. Second, participants whose newborns require admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) following delivery will be excluded, as this circumstance may impact maternal mood and recovery, potentially confounding the study outcomes. Third, patients who are admitted to the labor and delivery unit before their scheduled cesarean section procedure will not be considered for enrollment, since the study is specifically designed for individuals undergoing planned cesarean deliveries and admitted directly to the postpartum unit.

Study Plan

Study Type: Interventional
Phase: Not Applicable
Enrollment: 182Estimated
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)

Contacts and Locations

Central Contacts: Mi Y Park, MSNContact
mi.park@memorialhermann.org18322476717

Similar Studies

Participant Group/Arms

Control groupNo Intervention

Participants assigned to the control group will receive standard post-operative care following their scheduled cesarean section, with no aromatherapy intervention. This approach enables a clear comparison with the experimental group to evaluate the impact of aromatherapy. The PANAS and DVPRS assessments will be administered at 24 and 48 hours post-surgery.

Experimental groupExperimental

Participants assigned to the intervention group will have self-adhesive aromatherapy tabs applied to their hospital gowns within 24 hours after their cesarean surgery. These aromatabs, containing a blend of lavender and sandalwood essential oils, are worn continuously for 24 hours, delivering consistent aromatic exposure. After this 24-hour interval, the tabs will be removed 48 hours post-surgery. To assess the impact of the aromatherapy intervention, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Defense Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) will be administered at both the 24-hour and 48-hour following surgery. This approach will allow for a detailed evaluation of changes in mood and pain levels associated with the use of Aromatabs during the immediate postoperative recovery period.

Other: Lavender-sandalwood aromatherapy tabs