Effect of aromatherapy with Lavender on nurses' fatigue in the intensive care unit: A randomized controlled trial

Nurse fatigue can result from multiple factors, including long working hours, night shifts, staff shortages, work-related stress, and continuous patient interactions. Aromatherapy is a complementary therapy recognized for its beneficial effects on both physical and mental well-being. This study aimed to assess the impact of lavender aromatherapy on the fatigue experienced by nurses. This randomized controlled trial was conducted among 70 nurses, who were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire was used as the primary data collection tool. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. The results indicated that fatigue levels in the intervention group were 14.32 (standard deviation [SD]=8.18) before the intervention and 5.72 (SD=4.08) afterward. A paired t-test revealed a significant reduction in fatigue levels (P<0.01). In contrast, the control group had pre-intervention fatigue levels of 12.86 (SD=4.20), which showed no significant change after the intervention (P=0.280). Findings suggest that inhaling lavender essential oil can help reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, and alleviate fatigue. These calming and anti-anxiety effects can be particularly beneficial in high-stress environments such as hospitals, where nurses face considerable physical and mental strain. Therefore, lavender aromatherapy can serve as a cost-effective, non-invasive intervention to promote relaxation and reduce nurse fatigue in clinical settings.