The Effect of Aromatherapy on Pain and Anxiety Levels Before Breast Biopsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Aromatherapy is widely used in the management of symptoms caused by interventional procedures. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of lavender and lavender-peppermint aromatherapy before breast biopsy for reducing women's pain and anxiety.

Materials and methods: This trial was conducted in the breast outpatient clinic of a university hospital in İstanbul between July 2021 and March 2023. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups; lavender or lavender-peppermint or the control group. Twenty minutes before the breast biopsy, a small pad impregnated with lavender or lavender-peppermint essential oil was attached to each patient at shoulder level, allowing for inhalation. The patients' anxiety and pain levels were assessed before and after the biopsy procedure using the state anxiety inventory and visual analogue scale, respectively.

Results: Study population was 135 patients, equally divided between lavender, lavender-peppermint or control groups (each n = 45). The mean age of the patients was 46.30±10.31 years, 76% were married, 65.9% were employed, and 64.4% underwent thick-needle biopsy. After the biopsy, reported anxiety and pain levels had decreased significantly more in the aromatherapy groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the lavender and lavender-peppermint groups in terms of anxiety and pain reduction (p>0.05). Anxiety and pain levels were positively correlated (r = 0.406; p<0.001).

Conclusion: The use of lavender and lavender-peppermint essential oil via inhalation before breast biopsy was effective in reducing reported anxiety and pain levels. Implementing lavender and lavender-peppermint essential oil inhalation before interventional procedures may offer a simple and cost-effective approach to improving patient outcomes.