An interventional study of Lavender Aromatherapy and Bergamot Aromatherapy in Anxiety, Colonoscopy and Aromatherapy, sponsored by Eastern Mediterranean University. Recruiting at 1 site in Cyprus. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-07-16.
Sponsored by Eastern Mediterranean University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of aromatherapy with lavender and bergamot essential oils on anxiety, vital signs, and feelings of embarrassment before colonoscopy. The findings of this study are expected to contribute both to filling a gap in the literature and to the planning of evidence-based nursing interventions aimed at minimizing pre-colonoscopy anxiety and embarrassment in patients.
In addition to being a painful and uncomfortable procedure, colonoscopy can cause anxiety and fear in patients due to procedure-related concerns, fear of a cancer diagnosis, and feelings of embarrassment resulting from perceived violations of privacy during the procedure. To alleviate patients' anxiety, fear, or embarrassment before colonoscopy, various non-pharmacological approaches, such as aromatherapy, are utilized. Aromatherapy, also known as essential oil therapy, is defined as "the art and science of using naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize, and promote the health of the body, mind, and spirit". Lavender and bergamot essential oils have been reported to have positive effects on anxiety in patients undergoing certain medical procedures, such as surgeries, childbirth, urodynamic testing, and endoscopic interventions. However, no study has yet evaluated the combined effects of aromatherapy with lavender and bergamot oils on anxiety, vital signs, and feelings of embarrassment in patients undergoing colonoscopy. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of aromatherapy with lavender and bergamot essential oils on anxiety, vital signs, and feelings of embarrassment before colonoscopy. The findings of this study are expected to contribute both to filling a gap in the literature and to the planning of evidence-based nursing interventions aimed at minimizing pre-colonoscopy anxiety and embarrassment in patients.
7,201 studies on the registry are indexed under Anxiety Disorders; 1,682 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 102 is above the median of 80 across 6,057 interventional studies indexed under Anxiety Disorders.
Browse Anxiety Disorders studies →Eastern Mediterranean University is the lead sponsor of 141 studies on the registry; 17 are open to participants now.
Compared within Anxiety Disorders, the registry's first condition term, which may not be this study's main condition. Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily. How we classify →
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Inhalation of lavender essential oil for 20 minutes prior to colonoscopy.
Other: Lavender Aromatherapy
Inhalation of bergamot essential oil for 20 minutes prior to colonoscopy.
Other: Bergamot Aromatherapy
Participants in this group will inhale an odorless substance (distilled water ) to mimic the aromatherapy procedure without active ingredients.
Other: Placebo Inhalation
Participants will inhale lavender essential oil via cotton pads placed near the nose for 20 minutes prior to colonoscopy. The application will take place in a pre-procedure waiting area under nurse supervision.
Participants will inhale bergamot essential oil through cotton pads placed near the nose for 20 minutes before the colonoscopy procedure, under the supervision of clinical staff.
Participants will inhale an odorless substance (distilled water) using the same method and duration as the intervention groups, to simulate the aromatherapy procedure.
Change in anxiety level measured by the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State)
Anxiety will be assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State), which consists of 20 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale. The total score ranges from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety. The scale has been validated in Turkish with a Cronbach's alpha between 0.94 and 0.96.
Time frame: Immediately before and 30 minutes after the intervention
Change in embarrassment level measured by the Colonoscopy Embarrassment Scale
Embarrassment related to colonoscopy will be measured using the 15-item Colonoscopy Embarrassment Scale, with scores ranging from 15 to 60. Higher scores indicate greater embarrassment. The Turkish version has a Cronbach's alpha of 0.94.
Time frame: Immediately after the colonoscopy procedure
Change in heart rate
Heart rate (beats per minute) will be measured using a standard monitoring form.
Time frame: Immediately before and 30 minutes after the intervention
Change in respiratory rate
Respiratory rate (breaths per minute) will be measured using a standard monitoring form.
Time frame: Immediately before and 30 minutes after the intervention
Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured in mmHg using a standard blood pressure monitor.
Time frame: Immediately before and 30 minutes after the intervention
Change in oxygen saturation
Oxygen saturation (SpO₂) will be measured using pulse oximetry.
Time frame: Immediately before and 30 minutes after the intervention
Plan to share: No
Started Jan 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Oct 2025, 9 months after the start.
Of 3,836 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Anxiety Disorders, half reached primary completion within 12 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 28. This study's planned 9 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 3,938 studies reached it within 12 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 28.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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