Effect of Aromatherapy on Anxiety in Colonoscopy Patients

In addition to being a painful and uncomfortable procedure, colonoscopy can cause anxiety and fear in patients due to procedure-related concerns, fear of a cancer diagnosis, and feelings of embarrassment resulting from perceived violations of privacy during the procedure. To alleviate patients' anxiety, fear, or embarrassment before colonoscopy, various non-pharmacological approaches, such as aromatherapy, are utilized. Aromatherapy, also known as essential oil therapy, is defined as "the art and science of using naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize, and promote the health of the body, mind, and spirit". Lavender and bergamot essential oils have been reported to have positive effects on anxiety in patients undergoing certain medical procedures, such as surgeries, childbirth, urodynamic testing, and endoscopic interventions. However, no study has yet evaluated the combined effects of aromatherapy with lavender and bergamot oils on anxiety, vital signs, and feelings of embarrassment in patients undergoing colonoscopy. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of aromatherapy with lavender and bergamot essential oils on anxiety, vital signs, and feelings of embarrassment before colonoscopy. The findings of this study are expected to contribute both to filling a gap in the literature and to the planning of evidence-based nursing interventions aimed at minimizing pre-colonoscopy anxiety and embarrassment in patients.