Examining the effect of aromatherapy using orange essence and an orientation tour upon anxiety in birthing parents of premature infants: a quasi-experimental study

Background & aim: Birthing parents of premature infants experience anxiety after the hospitalization of their infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). This study examines how orientation tours, both with and without orange essence aromatherapy, impact birthing parents’ anxiety levels in this context.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with participants (n=130) whose premature infants were hospitalized in a NICU situated in Tehran, Iran. Participants were recruited weekly into three groups: 1) orientation tour (n = 43), 2) orientation tour-aromatherapy (n = 44), and 3) control group (n = 43). In the orientation tour-aromatherapy group, 4 drops of orange essence were inhaled 30 minutes before participants’ first entry into the NICU. Subsequently, an orientation tour was undertaken in the NICU (30 minutes). Four drops of orange essence were also inhaled for 30 minutes before bedtime. Conversely, the orientation tour only group inhaled distilled water. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was completed by all participants one hour before the first entry into the NICU, as well as at one and 24 hours following discharge.
Results: At one and 24 hours post-NICU visit, both intervention groups showed statistically significantly lower state and trait anxiety scores than the control group (P < 0.001). No difference was observed between the two intervention groups at either time stages.
Conclusion: Given the results presented and the absence of any negative side effects, orientation tours may usefully be administered globally to reduce stress and anxiety in birthing parents of premature infants who are subsequently hospitalized in the NICU.