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Won and Chae: The Effects of Aroma Therapy on Allergic Symptoms, Eosinophil, and the Quality of Life related to Rhinitis in University Students with Allergic Rhinitis
Original Article

Korean J Adult Nurs 2015;27(4):438-448.

Published online: NaN August 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7469/kjan.2015.27.4.438

The Effects of Aroma Therapy on Allergic Symptoms, Eosinophil, and the Quality of Life related to Rhinitis in University Students with Allergic Rhinitis

Su Jin Won1, Young Ran Chae2

1Department of Nursing, Kyungdong University, Wonju

2Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea

Corresponding author: Chae, Young Ran Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University, 1 Gangwondaehak-gil, Chuncheon 200-701, Korea. Tel: +82-33-250-8886, Fax: +82-33-259-5636, E-mail: yrchae@kangwon.ac.kr

Received 29 June 201513 August 2015       Accepted 13 August 2015

Copyright © 2015 Korean Society of Adult Nursing

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of using aroma essential oils on allergic symptoms, eosinophils and quality of life related to rhinitis for university students with allergic rhinitis.

Methods

A randomized controlled experimental design was used. There were 37 participants in the experimental group, and 30 in the control group. The experimental group applied the essential oils four times a day in the nasal area as well as using inhalation of the oils each night for four weeks. Rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire was composed of 28 questions regarding seven areas associated with allergic reactions. The data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 21.0 program.

Results

Rhinitis symptom index, nose itching (p<.001), sneezing (p<.001), watery rhinorrhea (p<.001), and nose congestion (p<.001) all had significant difference for the participants in the treatment group. Further there were significant differences in eosinophils both for measured time and interaction (p<.001). For the quality of life related to rhinitis, the results showed significant difference (p<.001).

Conclusion

Using aroma therapy by applying essential oils turned out to be an effective nursing intervention that can be utilized in the easing of allergic symptom and the decrease of eosinophils, causing improvement in the quality of life related to rhinitis.

Keywords: Aromatherapy, Rhinitis, Allergic, Eosinophils, Quality of life, Students

REFERENCES

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Table 1.
Homogeneity Tests on General and Disease-related Characteristics (N=67)
Characteristics Categories Exp. (n=37) Cont. (n=30) x2 p
n (%) n (%)
Gender Male 4 (10.8) 3 (10.0) 0.102 .914
Female 33 (89.2) 27 (90.0)
Grade (year) 1 11 (29.7) 9 (30.0) 0.446 .931
2 14 (37.8) 12 (40.0)
3 7 (19.0) 4 (13.3)
4 5 (13.5) 5 (16.7)
Duration of symptoms (year) 2~5 18 (48.6) 16 (53.3)   .845†
6~10 17 (46.0) 12 (40.0)
11~13 2 (5.4) 2 (6.7)
Most inconvenient symptoms Nasal congestion 20 (54.1) 15 (50.0)   .886†
Nasal congestion Rhinorrhea 20 (54.1) 13 (35.1) 15 (50.0) 10 (33.3)
Sneezing 4 (10.8) 5 (16.7)
Symptoms impact on life Few have 15 (40.5) 11 (34.7) 0.176 .916
Many 17 (45.9) 14 (46.7)
Severe 5 (13.5) 5 (16.7)
Season that has severe symptoms Spring 5 (13.5) 6 (20.0) .352†
Autumn 1 (2.7) 0 (0.0)
Winter 6 (16.2) 1 (3.3)
Seasons change 20 (54.1) 20 (66.7)
All the year round 5 (13.5) 3 (10.0)
Time that has severe symptoms during the day Morning 26 (70.3) 20 (66.7) .860†
Night 8 (21.6) 6 (20.0)
All day 3 (8.1) 4 (13.3)
Disease that was felt in the past or current Yes 22 (59.5) 16 (53.3) 0.253 .615
No 15 (40.5) 14 (46.7)
Familial tendency Yes 27 (73.0) 26 (86.7) 1.879 .170
No 10 (27.0) 4 (13.3)
Housing facilities Apartment 19 (51.4) 19 (63.3) 2.175 .337
Detached house 12 (32.4) 5 (16.7)
Townhouse 6 (16.2) 6 (20.0)
Side effect of medicines during the treatment of rhinitis Yes 8 (21.6) 3 (10.0)   .321†
No 29 (78.4) 27 (90.0)
Experience that was applied by the supplementary alternative remedy in the past Yes 10 (27.0) 9 (30.0) 0.072 .788
No 27 (73.0) 21 (70.0)
     
Smoking Yes 14 (37.8) 14 (46.7) 0.531 .466
No 23 (62.2) 16 (53.3)

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group;

† Fisher's exact-test.

Table 2.
Homogeneity Test on the Outcome Variables (N=67
Variables Categories Groups n M±SD t p
Allergic symptoms Itching nose Exp. 37 2.27±0.77 -0.90 .367
  Cont. 30 2.43±0.68    
Sneezing Exp. 37 2.24±0.76 -0.51 .611
  Cont. 30 2.33±0.66    
Watery rhinorrhea Exp. 37 2.35±0.72 -0.49 .624
  Cont. 30 2.43±0.63    
Nasal congestion Exp. 37 2.30±0.66 -0.01 .987
  Cont. 30 2.30±0.70    
Eosinophils   Exp. 37 6.81±1.49 0.34 .729
  Cont. 30 6.67±1.90    
Quality of life Practical problems Exp. 37 3.99±0.52 1.06 .292
  Cont. 30 3.84±0.61    
Sleep disturbances Exp. 37 2.95±0.69 1.78 .079
  Cont. 30 2.66±0.63    
Nasal symptoms Exp. 37 4.10±0.51 1.20 .234
  Cont. 30 3.95±0.51    
Ocular symptoms Exp. 37 2.89±0.52 -1.88 .064
  Cont. 30 3.14±0.59    
Generalized symptoms Exp. 37 3.21±0.61 -1.50 .136
  Cont. 30 3.40±0.41    
Activity limitations Exp. 37 2.89±0.69 1.44 .155
  Cont. 30 2.66±0.63    
Total Exp. 37 79.89±9.17 0.10 .921
  Cont. 30 79.67±9.14    
Table 3.
Comparison on Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms between the Two Groups (N=67)
Variables Categories Exp. Cont. Source F p
M±SD M±SD
Nasal itching Pretest 2.27±0.77 2.43±0.68 Between group Group 47.749 ＜.001
2 weeks 1.46±0.51 2.07±0.64 Within-group Time 131.782 ＜.001
4 weeks 0.51±0.51 2.03±0.61   GroupTime 52.150 ＜.001
Sneezing Pretest 2.24±0.76 2.33±0.66 Between group Group 39.992 ＜.001
2 weeks 1.59±0.50 2.10±0.66 Within-group Time 45.203 ＜.001
4 weeks 0.86±0.54 2.17±0.65   GroupTime 27.802 ＜.001
Watery rhinorrhea Pretest 2.35±0.72 2.43±0.63 Between group Group 100.979 ＜.001
2 weeks 1.05±0.74 2.43±0.68 Within-group Time 66.491 ＜.001
4 weeks 0.49±0.65 2.43±0.50   GroupTime 66.491 ＜.001
Nasal congestion Pretest 2.30±0.66 2.30±0.70 Between group Group 50.001 ＜.001
2 weeks 1.27±0.65 1.93±0.64 Within-group Time 91.373 ＜.001
4 weeks 0.49±0.51 2.23±0.63   GroupTime 78.856 ＜.001

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

Table 4.
Comparison of Eosinophil between the Two Groups (N=67)
Variables Exp. Cont. t p Source F p
M±SD M±SD
Pretest 6.81±1.49 6.67±1.90 0.348 .729 Between group Group 5.599 .021
2 weeks 5.24±2.59 6.27±2.36 -1.674 .099 Within-group Time 28.812 ＜.001
4 weeks 4.19±2.48 6.17±2.26 -3.374 .001   GroupTime 13.309 .001

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

Table 5.
Comparison of Rhinitis-related Quality of Life between the Two groups (N=67)
Variables Categories Exp. Cont. t p Source F p
M±SD M±SD
Practical problems Pretest 3.99±0.52 3.84±0.61 1.062 .292 Between group Group 58.421 ＜.001
2 weeks 2.86±0.69 3.43±0.73 -3.319 .001 Within-group Time 55.835 ＜.001
4 weeks 2.32±0.65 3.87±0.68 -9.525 ＜.001 GroupTime 58.830 ＜.001
Sleep disturbances Pretest 2.95±0.69 2.66±0.63 1.787 .079 Between group Group 10.747 .002
2 weeks 2.06±0.61 2.67±0.86 -3.230 .002 Within-group Time 35.382 ＜.001
4 weeks 1.72±0.67 2.47±0.77 -4.224 ＜.001   GroupTime 18.996 ＜.001
Nasal symptoms Pretest 4.10±0.51 3.95±0.51 1.201 .234 Between group Group 58.542 ＜.001
2 weeks 3.09±0.61 4.04±0.58 -6.521 ＜.001 Within-group Time 71.647 ＜.001
4 weeks 2.67±0.69 3.74±0.49 -7.432 ＜.001 GroupTime 39.875 ＜.001
Ocular symptoms Pretest 2.89±0.52 3.14±0.59 -1.887 .064 Between group Group 34.073 ＜.001
2 weeks 2.13±0.72 2.81±0.81 -3.618 .001 Within-group Time 87.842 ＜.001
4 weeks 1.66±0.65 2.45±0.60 -5.154 ＜.001 GroupTime 6.889 .011
Generalized symptoms Pretest 3.21±0.61 3.40±0.41 -1.508 .136 Between group Group 66.849 ＜.001
2 weeks 2.42±0.70 3.05±0.70 -3.677 ＜.001 Within-group Time 56.558 ＜.001
4 weeks 1.87±0.67 3.25±0.58 -8.989 ＜.001 GroupTime 35.918 ＜.001
Activity limitations Pretest 2.89±0.69 2.66±0.63 1.440 .115 Between group Group 31.494 ＜.001
2 weeks 1.82±0.69 2.47±0.77 -3.626 .001 Within-group Time 44.656 ＜.001
4 weeks 1.47±0.50 2.62±0.76 -7.142 ＜.001 GroupTime 40.640 ＜.001

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

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