J Korean Acad Nurs.  2005 Apr;35(2):303-312.

The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Cognitive Function, Emotion, and Aggressive Behavior of Elderly with Demenita

• Lee SY

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was to develop an aromatherapy hand massage program, and to evaluate the effects of lavender aromatherapy on cognitive function, emotion, and aggressive behavior of elderly with dementia of the Alzheimer's type. METHOD: The Research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized quasiexperimental study. Lavender aromatherapy was administrated to experimental group I for 2 weeks, jojoba oil massage was administrated to experimental group II for 2 weeks, and no treatment was administrated to the control group for 2 weeks. Data was analyzed using the chi-square-test, ANOVA, repeated measures of ANCOVA and ANCOVA in the SPSS program package. RESULT: 1. Experimental group I did not show significant differences in cognitive function in relation to the experimental group II and control group. 2. Experimental group I showed significant differences in emotion and aggressive behavior in relation to the experimental group II and control group. CONCLUSION: A Lavender aromatherapy hand massage program is effective on emotions and aggressive behavior of elderly with dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

Keyword

Dementia; Cognition; Emotions; Aggressive behavior; Aromatherapy

MeSH Terms

Plant Oils/*therapeutic use
Oils, Volatile/*therapeutic use
Middle Aged
*Massage
Male
*Lavandula
Humans
Female
Emotions
Dementia/*psychology/therapy
Cognition
*Aromatherapy
Aggression
Aged, 80 and over
Aged