An interventional study of Aromatherapy and Unscented Pod in Postoperative Pain, Preoperative Anxiety and Patient Experience, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-18.
Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
Among 1,180 studies in Pain, Postoperative with a site in United States — 204 open to participants now, 237 under way, 26 of them phase 3. Pain, Postoperative · United States.
Among the 1,180 studies in Pain, Postoperative with a site in United States, this one is the 100th largest by planned enrollment of the 1,098 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 68 that started in 2026, is one of 373 with no phase, reaches primary completion later than 192 of the 236 other live ones, and was the 1,159th registered.
5,644 studies on the registry are indexed under Pain, Postoperative; 1,229 are open to participants now.
Browse Pain, Postoperative studies →204 of the 1,180 studies in Pain, Postoperative with a site in United States are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:
Loma Linda University · Sites in United States
Ages 18+ · Men only
Columbia University · Sites in United States
Ages 12–21
Duke University · Sites in United States
Ages 18+ · Healthy volunteers
Stanford University · Sites in United States
Ages 18+ · Women only
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York · Sites in United States
Ages 18+
A study can be open while its sites in United States have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in United States →
Of the 678 Pain, Postoperative studies recruiting now, 241 (36%) set no upper age limit and 328 (48%) stop at 75 or younger; 74 take children under 18; 128 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 18 Years and older · all sexes · healthy volunteers too.
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1,180 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
A study in two phases is counted once above. Listed by phase, each with its combined phases: Phase 1 66 · Phase 2 155 · Phase 3 179 · Phase 4 359
First in 1996; this study’s year is marked. 68 started in 2026.
By drug class, each counting the studies that test any of its medicines:
This study's planned enrollment of 286 is above the median of 75 across 4,825 interventional studies indexed under Pain, Postoperative.
Median enrollment 76 across the 1,098 interventional studies, 130 across the 82 observational. Of the 783 that completed or were terminated, 474 (61%) have results posted.
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199 of 1,180 have an industry lead sponsor. The 10 most frequent:
Kaiser Permanente is the lead sponsor of 393 studies on the registry; 43 are open to participants now.
Of its 7 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 3 (43%) have results posted.
Kaiser Permanente has 2 studies filed under Pain, Postoperative — fewer than ten, so there is no comparison to draw.
97 of the studies in Pain, Postoperative with a site in United States that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 13 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT07060495Phase 3Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyRADA16 for Adult Tonsillectomy | 2026-12-01 |
| NCT07539623Phase 3Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiSuzetrigine-enhanced MultimOdal Opioid-sparing THerapy in Cardiac and Bariatric SURGery | 2026-12-22 |
| NCT07226076Phase 3Medical University of South CarolinaMethadone in TKA for Post-op Pain and Opioid Reduction | 2026-12-28 |
| NCT07565870Phase 3Alexandre P. JoostenMethadone for Enhanced Postoperative Analgesia in Intermediate-Risk Noncardiac Surgery (MELODY) | 2026-12-31 |
| NCT05058287Phase 3Hospital for Special Surgery, New YorkLumbar Steroid Use in Patients Undergoing Posterior Lumbar Decompression | 2026-12-31 |
Add all 97 to your calendar (.ics) → With an account.
Among the 1,180 studies in Pain, Postoperative with a site in United States, from their registry updates:
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
Aromatherapy's Impact on Preoperative Anxiety, Postoperative Pain, and Patient Experience
Introduction:
Surgery often results in increased levels of anxiety and postoperative pain. Postoperative pain relief is typically treated with opioids. However, evidence shows that treatment with opioids alone is often insufficient to provide adequate levels of pain relief and can contribute to the growing opioid crisis. Alternative pain management strategies that combine narcotic medication with complementary therapies can improve comfort as well as decrease preoperative anxiety. Aromatherapy is an evidence-based complementary therapy used to decrease preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain that has been underutilized in ambulatory surgical centers. This study aimed to evaluate the impact Aromatherapy has as an anxiety and pain management strategy. Subsequently, evidence also supports that improving the patient experience can lead to better surgical outcomes.
Study Aim:
This study will examine the effect that aromatherapy has on preoperative anxiety, postoperative pain and patient experience
Study Question(s):
In perioperative patients at Kaiser Stockton Ambulatory Surgery Unit, how does aromatherapy, compared with standard practice, affect preoperative anxiety?
In perioperative patients at Kaiser Stockton Ambulatory Surgery Unit, how does aromatherapy, compared with standard practice, affect postoperative pain?
In perioperative patients at Kaiser Stockton Ambulatory Surgery Unit, how does aromatherapy, compared with standard practice, affect patient experience?
Study Method: Prospective Experimental Randomized Control Clinical Trial
Study Duration: 18 months
Study Process: The participants will be recruited through their Pre-surgery interview, at which time a brief explanation will be given on aromatherapy, its potential to reduce preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain, and increase the patient experience. The study design and protocol will also be described. Should the participants elect to participate in this study, they will be randomly assigned using a computer program. Upon arrival for surgery, informed consent will be obtained. Anxiety and pain will be assessed for pre- and post- intervention and just before transferring to the operating room (OR). Upon arrival to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), pain will be assessed in 15-minute intervals until discharge. Anxiety will be reassessed at discharge. Experience will be assessed 2 weeks after discharge.
Data Analysis:
A one-way Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) will be used to assess the impact of aromatherapy on pain, anxiety, and satisfaction.
Conclusions:
This study aims to add to the body of knowledge of how the incorporation of aromatherapy can impact patient outcomes.
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:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Aromatherapy Pod
Other: Aromatherapy
Unscented Pod
Other: Unscented Pod
An aromatherapy pod with the blend of Lavendar and Sweet Orange, which has been identified as aiding with stress, pain, and anxiety.
An unscented "aromatherapy" pod that looks identical to the active intervention.
Preoperative Anxiety
Assessed using the Preoperative Anxiety Scale-7. This is a 7 question 5-point Likert scale with the values of 0 to 4, 0 being no anxiety and 4 being the highest anxiety. There are a possible total of 28 points, which would be assessed as the highest level of anxiety measurement possible. The lowest possible is 0.
Time frame: Prior to the intervention, the participant will assess their baseline anxiety using the Preoperative Anxiety Scale-7, re-evaluated prior to transfer to the OR after intervention is applied, and again at discharge. All on Day 1, date of surgery.
Verbalized Postoperative Pain
Measured using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale (WB). The WB scale has a low-end value of 0, indicating no pain, and a high-end value of 10, indicating the most pain. WB can be measured in whole numbers from 0-10.
Time frame: Assessed upon arrival to preop and prior to intervention, for a baseline. Reassessment after intervention and prior to transfer to OR, upon arrival to PACU, 15-minute intervals until ready to discharge, and at discharge. All on Day 1, date of surgery.
Patient Experience
Patients are asked to evaluate their experience using study-specific designed 5-point Likert scale consisting of 7-8 questions. Questions asked are: "How well was aromatherapy explained?", "How would you rate your overall aromatherapy experience?", "How well did aromatherapy help you to relax before surgery?", How well did aromatherapy help your pain before surgery?" (if pain was present at baseline assessment), "How well did aromatherapy help your pain after surgery?", "How likely are you to continue to use aromatherapy for anxiety management at home?", and "How likely are you to continue to use aromatherapy for anxiety management at home?" The low-end value is 1 and the high-end value is 5. Question 5 will only be asked if preoperative pain was present. There is a minimum of 8 and maximum of 40 for 8 questions (preop pain present), and a minimum of 7 and maximum of 35 for 7 questions (no preop pain present).
Time frame: 1 week after date of surgery. The questionnaire should take 5- 10 minutes to complete. The patient is called at home by a study nurse.
Non-verbal Postoperative Pain
Checklist of Non-verbal Pain Indicators (CNPI) scale. The CNPI scale has a low-end value of 0, indicating no pain, and a high-end value of 6, indicating the most pain. This scale assesses for non-verbal characteristics that could identify when pain is present when the patient cannot articulate their pain through WB scale. One point is awarded for each behavior observed with a possible score of 0-6. This scale can also be assessed "at rest" or "with activity".
Time frame: Assessed upon arrival to preop and prior to intervention, for a baseline. Reassessment after intervention and prior to transfer to OR, upon arrival to PACU, 15-minute intervals until ready to discharge, and at discharge. All on Day 1, date of surgery.
Plan to share: No — HIPAA
Started Jul 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jan 2028, 18 months after the start.
Of 2,094 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Pain, Postoperative, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 23. This study's planned 18 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 2,107 studies reached it within 11 months; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 23.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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