Aromatherapy and Music Impact on Nurses' Stress at Work

Part of paid clinical trials in Chicago, Illinois.

Sponsor
Northwestern University
Study ID
NCT07732179
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

  • Stress

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • lavender-chamomile aromatherapy oil and music — OTHER
    There is only one experimental arm in this study. All participants will self-administer aromatherapy oil while listening to music during their scheduled 20-minute rest break during work hours.

Study Details

The purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice research project is to determine if nurses who receive chamomile-lavender aromatherapy and listen to music during a 20-minute break once per shift for 8 weeks, will experience report decreased work stress (measured by self-reported symptoms of anxiety) compared to before the aromatherapy and music intervention during breaks. We know nurses are at high risk for stress and anxiety. Despite the current processes and policies in place at Northwestern Memorial Hospital that support nurses to take breaks during their shifts, nurses continue to share feeling stressed and anxious. Included in this Doctor of Nursing Practice research project is an evidence synthesis of fourteen studies supporting the idea that combining aromatherapy and music can reduce anxiety in both adults and children. The evidence-based intervention being studied is administering lavender-chamomile essential oil aromatherapy and listening to music during 20-minute non-meal breaks once a shift for 8 weeks. Participants will go to a quiet breakroom, pour 3 drops of lavender-chamomile essential oil onto a non-adhesive 2X2 gauze pad, and place the pad about 20 centimeters from their noses while also listening to their preferred calming music through their personal phones and wireless earbuds or headphones for twenty minutes.

Key Dates

First listed
Jul 28, 2026
Start date
Jul 1, 2026
Status verified
Jul 2026
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2026
Completion
Sep 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
25 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: Aromatherapy and music
    Nurses employed on a critical care unit at an academic medical center will self-administer lavender-chamomile aromatherapy oil and listen to music of choice on earphones during their scheduled 20-minute rest break during work hours.

Primary Outcome Measure

Measure of workplace stress [ Time Frame: The Beck Anxiety Inventory will be given before the intervention begins. After the 10 week intervention period, the participants will be asked to complete the Beck Anxiety Inventory again as a post-intervention measure. ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Northwestern Medicine Academic Medical CenterChicagoIllinois60611
Angela Maeder, PhD, RNC-OB
[email protected]
3129269258
Sarah Buenaventura, MSN, RN, NE-BC
[email protected]
3129261061
Angela Maeder, PhD, RNC-OB (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

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By research site
Northwestern Medicine Academic Medical Center· Chicago, IL

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