Korean J Adult Nurs.  2024 May;36(2):85-101. 10.7475/kjan.2024.36.2.85.

The Effects of Aromatherapy on Stroke Symptoms in Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Lim AR
• Kim HK

• KMID: 2556403
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2024.36.2.85

Abstract

Purpose
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of aromatherapy interventions on stroke symptoms in stroke patients.
Methods
This study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Relevant studies published between 2004 and 2022 were searched in the PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ERIC, and RISS databases. The review included randomized and non-randomized studies of stroke patients who received aromatherapy interventions targeting stroke symptoms. The extracted literature was evaluated via the ROB 2 and ROBINS-1 quality appraisal checklists and visualized using a risk-of-bias visualization tool.
Results
The review included five randomized controlled trials and five quasi-experimental studies. The results showed that aromatherapy, administered through massage, inhalation, acupressure, mouth care, and olfactory stimulation, was effective in alleviating pain, constipation, oral health, motor power, muscle strength, balance, fatigue, and sleep quality. Aromatherapy also demonstrated beneficial effects in reducing depression, stress, delirium, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate, serum cortisol, and antioxidants, while enhancing happiness, body temperature, and quality of life. A meta-analysis of mean differences in post-test results revealed that three studies reported a significant effect on pain, with an effect size of 1.85 (95% CI, 0.18~3.51).
Conclusion
Aromatherapy had positive effects on physical, physiological, psychological, cognitive, and integrative health outcomes. We recommend the use of aromatherapy in stroke patients to improve pain relief and health outcomes.

Keyword

Aromatherapy; Hemiplegia; Meta-analysis; Stroke; Systematic review