Effectiveness of Lavender Aroma in Alleviating Pain And Fear in Children During Blood Sampling: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Lavender aroma is a simple method that may help alleviate pain and fear in children. However, few studies have shown its effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of lavender aroma in reducing pain and fear in children during blood sampling.Methods: The research, a randomized controlled trial, included 102 children aged between 7 and 14 at a public hospital’s blood collection unit in Turkey, with 51 children in the lavender aroma group and 51 in the standard care group. The data were collected through the administration of the Child Information Form (CIF), the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBPRS), and the Children’s Medical Fear Scale (CMFS).Results: The two groups were comparable at baseline as they did not differ in socio-demographic characteristics or prior experiences with blood sampling (P > .05). During blood draw, the lavender aroma group exhibited a mean WBPRS score of 3.6±1.3, compared to 7.6±1.4 in the standard care group, indicating significantly lower pain (P < .05). Before the procedure, CMFS scores were comparable between the groups (lavender aroma group: 66.6±7.3, standard care group: 68.4±9.0). However, during the procedure, the mean CMFS score in the lavender aroma group was 61.7±7.3 compared to 69.0±7.9 in the standard care group, demonstrating that children exposed to lavender aroma experienced significantly less fear (P < .05).Conclusion: Lavender aroma effectively reduces pain and fear during blood draws in children aged 7-14. It is recommended that lavender aroma be used to alleviate pain and fear during such procedures, and that nurses be informed of its benefits.