J Korean Biol Nurs Sci.  2025 Feb;27(1):25-37. 10.7586/jkbns.24.040.

The effects of aroma inhalation on the quality of sleep, professional quality of life, and near-misses in medication errors among emergency room nurses on night duty in Korea: a randomized controlled trial

• Son J
• Kim CG

• KMID: 2565133
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7586/jkbns.24.040

Abstract

Purpose
This study investigated the effects of aroma inhalation on sleep quality, professional quality of life (QoL), and near-misses in medication errors during night shifts among emergency room nurses.
Methods
A randomized crossover experimental design was used to determine the effects of this intervention. The research participants included 55 nurses (29 in group 1 and 26 in group 2) who worked as nurses in the emergency room at a tertiary general hospital in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. Aroma inhalation was conducted on the night shift. Sleep quality, professional QoL, and near-misses in medication were measured before and after inhalation of the aroma. Data was analyzed using the independent t-test, the chi-square test, and a linear mixed-effects model.
Results
The aroma treatment group had significantly better sleep quality than the non-treatment group (p < .010), and the sleep time on the third day of aroma treatment was longer than that of the non-treatment group (p = .008). However, there were no signs of improvement in professional QoL or near-misses in medication errors in response to aroma treatment.
Conclusion
Aroma inhalation effectively improved sleep quality and increased sleep duration in emergency room nurses. Therefore, aroma inhalation is suggested as an intervention to improve the sleep quality of emergency room nurses who work night shifts. Follow-up studies are needed to build a more robust evidence base to inform strategies for improving nurses' professional QoL and patient safety during medication management.

Keyword

Aromatherapy; Sleep; Quality of life; Medication errors