Effect of peppermint aroma on physiological parameters of mechanically ventilated patients: Randomized placebo controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Background Mechanical ventilation increases stress and anxiety of critically ill patients and subsequently physiological parameters of these patients. Peppermint inhalation reduces stress and improves physiological parameters in many studies, but none of these studies used peppermint inhalation yet for mechanically ventilated patients. Methods Randomized placebo controlled trial. Data for this study were collected from 1 June to 12 September 2022. Patients who were conscious on mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group received peppermint inhalation intervention, and the placebo group received almond inhalation intervention. Patients in both groups were assessed for their smell ability by Sniffin Sticks-test before starting the interventions. CONSORT checklist was used to report the study. This study was conducted in six intensive care units. Results A total of 52 patients in the intervention group and 54 patients in the placebo group completed the study. Pain score was significantly decreased in the intervention group after starting the intervention in comparison to the placebo group. There was a strong positive correlation between Sniffin Sticks-test score and the decrease in pain score after inhalation of peppermint. Conclusion/ Implications for practice: Inhalation of mechanically ventilated patients to peppermint decreases pain score. The effectiveness of peppermint inhalation is correlated to the smell ability of the patients. Trial registration: The identification number of the registered trial to the Clinical Trials Online Registry is: NCTXXXXXXX.