Inhalation of Origanum majorana L. essential oil while working reduces perceived stress and anxiety levels of nurses in a COVID-19 intensive care unit: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Nurses caring for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience higher psychosocial distress than other healthcare workers, and this can adversely affect the quality of patient care. There is evidence that inhalation of essential oil from marjoram ( Origanum majorana L.) has calming effects, suggesting this intervention may help to reduce the stress and anxiety of nurses working in a COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU). This study aimed to investigate the effect of inhalation of marjoram essential oil at work on the stress and anxiety levels of nurses in a COVID-19 ICU.

METHODS: Nurses ( n  = 57) working in a single COVID-19 ICU were randomly assigned to inhale 3% marjoram essential oil (marjoram group, n  = 29) or almond oil (control group, n  = 28) for 2 h while at work. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, state anxiety score, and score on a visual analog scale for anxiety (VAS-anxiety) and stress (VAS-stress) were measured before and after the intervention.

RESULTS: The two groups had similar baseline variables. MAP did not have within-group or between-group differences. Heart rate increased significantly in the marjoram group after the intervention ( p  = 0.031), but it remained within the normal range and the increase was not clinically meaningful. There was no significant between-group difference in the state-anxiety or VAS-anxiety score after the intervention, but the marjoram group had a significantly lower state-anxiety ( p  = 0.001) and VAS-anxiety ( p  = 0.037) score at posttest vs. pretest. The VAS-stress score was significantly lower in the marjoram group at the posttest vs. the pretest ( p  = 0.026).

CONCLUSION: Nurses caring for patients in a COVID-19 ICU experience significant stress, and strategies are needed to address this important issue. Inhalation of 3% marjoram essential oil while caring for patients in a COVID-19 ICU may be a simple and effective intervention that reduces perceived stress and anxiety in nurses. Clinical Trial Registration : https://cris.nih.go.kr/, KCT0007543.