The Effects of Aromatherapy for Improvement of Sleep Quality in Diabetes with Neuropathy

• Main Authors: Pei-Jung Yu, 余珮蓉
• Other Authors: Ai-Fu Chiou
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/18173231583684381114

碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 護理學系碩士班 === 95 === The purpose of this experimental study was to examine the effects of aromatherapy on improvement of sleep quality in diabetes patients with neuropathy. Forty-four diabetes patients with neuropathy were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=22) and the control group (n=22) at a hospital in northern Taiwan. Patients in the experimental group received the aromatherapy intervention for 6 weeks, while those in the control group received only regular nursing care. The instruments included Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index and SureStepTM of blood glucose meters. Data were collected on pre-test, two weeks, four weeks, and six weeks after the aromatherapy intervention. The frequency, percentage, chi-square, independent t test, paired t test, Pearson product-moment correlation, repeated measure ANOVA and general linear mixed-effect models were used for data analysis. The results of this study indicated: 1. Sleep quality of diabetes patients with neuropathy is poor. 2. Sleep latency of patients in the experimental group was improved at 2nd week after they received aromatherapy; In addition, perceived sleep quality and sleep disturbance of patients was also improved at 4th week after aromatherapy. 3. At 6th week after aromatherapy, patients in the experimental group had increased their sleep duration, reduced their daytime dysfunction, and improved their sleep quality. 4. Level of blood sugar was decreased at 2nd week after aromatherapy on diabetes patients in the experimental group. 5. There was no significant correlation between blood sugar and sleep quality. This experimental study proves that aromatherapy can ameliorate both blood sugar and sleep quality of diabetes with neuropathy patients. Suggestion is made to take aromatherapy as a combined therapy in routine care for diabetes with neuropathy patients. It is supported that aromatherapy can be a safe, noninvasive, effective approach for clinical nursing member to care patients with sleep disturbance for a better quality in the future.