Use of Topical Lavender Essential Oils to Reduce Perceptions of Burnout in Critical Care

Abstract

Background Intensive care unit (ICU) health care workers face increased burnout. The purpose of this project was to evaluate burnout after implementing lavender essential oils. Objective To assess the effectiveness of topical lavender essential oils in decreasing the instance of burnout in frontline ICU health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A predesign and postdesign evidence-based practice project was conducted to evaluate the implications of an 8-week topical lavender oil intervention on health care worker burnout. The Maslach Burnout Inventory, including subscales of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment, was administered before and after the intervention. Health care workers’ compliance and satisfaction with the intervention were also measured. Results Thirty-four ICU health care workers participated. Results showed significant improvements in the personal accomplishment subscale (mean [SD], 3.86 [0.81] before vs 4.14 [1.01] after intervention; P = .04). Improvements in depersonalization were not significant. Most participants were satisfied (n = 23 [67.6%]) and compliant (n = 23 [67.6%]) with the intervention. Conclusion The use of topical lavender essential oils is a cost-effective intervention that can be used to decrease components of burnout in frontline ICU workers.