Aromatherapy and Foot Massage on Happiness, Sleep Quality, and Fatigue Levels of Patients With Stroke

Aromatherapy and Foot Massage on Happiness, Sleep Quality, and Fatigue Levels of Patients With Stroke

Effects of Aromatherapy and Foot Massage on Happiness, Sleep Quality, and Fatigue Levels of Patients With Stroke

Background: Stroke puts important economic and social loads on the society and was reported to be the most important reason for disability throughout the world. Purpose: The present study aims to experimentally examine the effect of aromatherapy and foot massage on happiness, sleep quality, and fatigue levels of patients with stroke. Material and method: The present study is a randomized clinical study with a control group. Participants were randomly divided into three groups (foot massage + aromatherapy, aromatherapy, and control). The study was carried out with 91 patients diagnosed with stroke. The data were collected using Sociodemographic Status Survey, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, Piper Fatigue Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics 24) package program. The results were interpreted using frequency tables and descriptive statistics. Foot massage group was given 30min foot massage sessions (3 days per week) for 4 weeks, whereas foot massage + aromatherapy group was given lavender oil inhaler during the foot massage.

For the patients in this group, sociodemographic form, happiness questionnaire, and PSQI was applied as pretest in preliminary examination. The final examination was performed 1 month later (posttest) by using the same scale. For the patients in foot massage group, 30-min foot massage sessions (15 min for each foot, 3 sessions per week for 1 month) were performed in a special room of rehabilitation center, in a quiet atmosphere at suitable temperature and without environmental stimulants.

For the patients in this group, sociodemographic form, happiness questionnaire, and PSQI was applied as pretest in preliminary examination. The final examination was performed 1 month later (posttest) by using the same scale. During the foot massage + aromatherapy lavender inhalation intervention, the patients were given lavender oil for 30 minutes by using a censer. The intervention protocol was developed reviewing the literature about lavender oil inhalation

Oxford Happiness Questionnaire - Short Form (OHQ - S) The total score ranges between 7 and 35 points. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): To identify the sleep is good or bad, PSQI quantitatively measures the quality of sleep. It includes a total of 24 items. Total score of 0-4 points indicates a good sleep quality and the scores between 5 and 21 indicate a poor sleep quality Piper Fatigue Scale Developed by Piper et al. (1998), this scale consists of 24 items and assesses 4 subjective dimensions of fatigue. Reliability and validity of Piper Fatigue Scale for Turkish society were tested by Can (2001). The mean score of 0 point indicates that there was no fatigue, whereas mean scores between 1 and 3 indicate a mild level of fatigue, those between 4 and 6 indicate a moderate level of fatigue, and those between 7 and 10 indicate a severe level of fatigue

Oxford Happiness Questionnaire - Short Form (OHQ - S) The total score ranges between 7 and 35 points. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): To identify the sleep is good or bad, PSQI quantitatively measures the quality of sleep. It includes a total of 24 items. Total score of 0-4 points indicates a good sleep quality and the scores between 5 and 21 indicate a poor sleep quality Piper Fatigue Scale Developed by Piper et al. (1998), this scale consists of 24 items and assesses 4 subjective dimensions of fatigue. Reliability and validity of Piper Fatigue Scale for Turkish society were tested by Can (2001). The mean score of 0 point indicates that there was no fatigue, whereas mean scores between 1 and 3 indicate a mild level of fatigue, those between 4 and 6 indicate a moderate level of fatigue, and those between 7 and 10 indicate a severe level of fatigue

Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of stroke at least 3 months, stroke levels of mild or moderate, no use of sleeping pill, volunteering in participation, not being allergic to aromatic oils, no problem with sense of smell, and no lung problem Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria were ulceration or lesion problem in foot, bone deformation in foot, history of allergy, cognitive or mental or language problems, difficulty in verbal communication, psychotic disorders, and not knowing the Turkish language.