The Effects of Inhaled Aromatherapy on Chemotherapy Induced Nausea (CINV) and Vomiting

This study is a three group, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial with two repeated measurements. The same measurements will be collected for each participant during two consecutive chemotherapy treatment cycles. After subjects are identified to meet criteria and have reported some degree of nausea following chemotherapy, one of the Clinical Nurse Coordinators or Infusion Room Nurses on the research team will provide information regarding the study to the potential subject. If the potential subject is interested in participating in the study and physically demonstrates the ability to correctly use the pocket diffuser the consent will be gone over in detail with the potential subject and signed. Educational handouts outlining the instructions for use of the pocket diffuser as well as safety and contact information will be provided and explained to the subject at this time. At the time the subject will provide written informed consent, they will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups (ginger essential oil, peppermint essential oil, or vanilla extract placebo- control) based on a pre-determined list of random assignments. The diffusers will have been prepped with essential oils of either peppermint or ginger, which will each contain 14 drops of the designated essential oil. The nonessential oil diffusers (placebo) pure vanilla extract will also be prepared to each contain 14 drops each. Prior to the start of the participant's chemotherapy infusion, all subjects will complete a pre-treatment survey to evaluate their baseline/anticipatory nausea. The pre-treatment survey will also include questions about the recent chemotherapy treatment experience related to appetite and the use of medication to prevent or lesson nausea. Then, participants will be provided with their assigned pocket diffuser which has already been prepared with the correct substance (ginger essential oil, peppermint essential oil, or pure vanilla extract). Participants will be asked to remove the cover of the pocket diffuser, place the pocket diffuser about an inch under their nose, and inhale three times with deep breathing (i.e. three sniffs). After use, the inhaler should be capped to minimize dispersal of the scent. Subjects will take three sniffs of the aromatherapy inhaler three times daily (morning, afternoon, and evening) starting at the time of the chemotherapy appointment through the final survey at 72 hours post-discharge. Subjects will be instructed on proper disposal and receive a new pocket-sized diffuser at the next treatment visit. All participants will be encouraged to follow all standard procedures related to their treatment including the use of any prescribed anti-emetics. Aromatherapy is considered a complementary therapy and is not intended to replace any current treatments. During the day after chemotherapy administration (approximately 24 hours post-discharge), a member of the study team will call the participant at their preferred time of day to conduct the first post-intervention survey. This survey will be identical to the baseline survey conducted on Day 1, but it will also include questions about the aromatherapy diffuser usage. By calling 24 hours after chemotherapy, the nausea reported by the participant can be classified as "acute nausea." Additionally, it will be documented as to if the subject required any antiemetics in addition to what was planned and ordered per the standard chemotherapy regimen. Approximately 72 hours post-discharge, a member of the study team will call the participant again at their preferred time of day. The survey questions will be exactly the same as the first phone call. At this time point, it will be possible to evaluate "delayed nausea" related to chemotherapy. Again, it will be documented as to if the subject required any antiemetics in addition to what was planned and ordered per the standard chemotherapy regimen. Participants will be reminded during the call that they will receive a phone call from the study team prior to their next chemotherapy appointment to remind them to return their used pocket diffuser for disposal. Returning the used diffuser from the previous cycle will be helpful to ensure that the subject will not confuse the diffuser from the 1st and 2nd cycles. Although both diffusers will contain the same thing (ginger essential oil, peppermint essential oil, or pure vanilla extract), the used diffuser would be less potent as it has been opened multiple times. The exact same procedures will be repeated during the participant's next cycle of chemotherapy, which is likely two or three weeks after the first one.