Effects of inhaled ginger aromatherapy on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and health-related quality of life in women with breast cancer

Lua, Pei Lin and Noor Salihah, - and Nik Mazlan, Mamat (2016) Effects of inhaled ginger aromatherapy on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and health-related quality of life in women with breast cancer. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 23 (3). pp. 396-404. ISSN 09652299

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Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy of inhaled ginger aromatherapy on nausea, vomiting and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in chemotherapy breast cancer patients. Design: Single-blind, controlled, randomized cross-over study. Patients received 5-day aromatherapy treatment using either ginger essential oil or fragrance-matched artificial placebo (ginger fragrance oil) which was instilled in a necklace in an order dictated by the treatment group sequence. Setting: Two oncology clinics in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Main outcome measures: VAS nausea score, frequency of vomiting and HRQoL profile (EORTC QLQ-C30 scores). Results: Sixty female patients completed the study (age = 47.3 ± 9.26 years; Malay = 98.3%; on highly emetogenic chemotherapy = 86.7%). The VAS nausea score was significantly lower after ginger essential oil inhalation compared to placebo during acute phase (P = 0.040) but not sustained for overall treatment effect (treatment effect: F = 1.82, P = 0.183; time effect: F = 43.98, P < 0.001; treatment × time effect: F = 2.04; P = 0.102). Similarly, there was no significant effect of aromatherapy on vomiting [F(1, 58) = 0.29, P = 0.594]. However, a statistically significant change from baseline for global health status (P < 0.001) was detected after ginger essential oil inhalation. A clinically relevant 10 points improvement on role functioning (P = 0.002) and appetite loss (P < 0.001) were also documented while patients were on ginger essential oil.

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