Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: October-December | Volume: 5 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 269-274
A Pre-Experimental Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Aromatherapy on Depression among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis in a Selected Hospital at Alappuzha District
Linsha Susan Philip1, Evangeline .J2, Rekha .S3
1Josco College of Nursing, Edappon, Mavelikara.
2Principal of Josco College of Nursing, Edappon, Mavelikara.
3HOD of Medical Surgical Nursing, Edappon, Mavelikara.
Corresponding Author: Linsha Susan Philip
ABSTRACT
A pre-experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of aromatherapy on depression among patients undergoing hemodialysis in a selected hospital at Alappuzha district. The objectives of the study were to assess the pre and post test level of depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis, find out the effectiveness of aromatherapy on depression, find out the association between pre test level of depression and selected socio demographic variables and to compare the effect of aromatherapy with clinical variables. A quantitative research approach with pre testpost test was adopted for the study. The study was conducted at Century Hospital, Mulakkuzha. The samples were 40 patients undergoing hemodialysis and were selected by purposive sampling technique. Conceptual framework was developed based on King’s goal attainment theory. The tools used were structured interview schedule on socio demographic data, clinical variables and Beck Depression Inventory scale to assess the level of depression. Pre test assessments were done and samples were subjected to aromatherapy twice weekly for four consecutive weeks. Post test was done after four weeks using the same tools. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study shows that more than half 67.5% of the subjects had severe depression and 32.5% had moderate depression before aromatherapy. The mean post test scores (24.13%) was lower than mean pre test scores (32.88%). The paired ‘t’ test (t= 23.221, p= 0.001) showed that there was significant reduction in depression scores after aromatherapy. Hence, research hypothesis was accepted. The study found association between selected socio demographic variables and no association with clinical variables with the effect of aromatherapy. As a holistic therapy, aromatherapy found to be benefit for both mind and body. It is likely that screening, diagnosing and treating depression properly in hemodialysis patients will be associated with improvement in quality and quantity of life.
Keywords: Effectiveness; Aromatherapy; Depression; Hemodialysis patients.