This study aimed to compare the effect of inhaled aromatherapy using various essential oils on the sleep quality of critically ill patients.
Inhalation of essential oils significantly promotes the physiological and psychological health of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). However, research identifying and ranking the effects of different essential oils on the sleep quality of critically ill patients is lacking.
This study followed the PRISMA Extension Statement for Reporting of Systematic Reviews Incorporating Network Meta-Analyses of Health Care Interventions (PRISMA-NMA) guidelines.
A comprehensive search of five databases (Embase, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL and PsycINFO) was conducted from their inception to March 15, 2023 (with an additional eligible study included dated August 14, 2023). Google Scholar was used as a supplementary method. Frequentist NMA was used to determine the effects of various essential oils. Certainty of evidence (CoE) was assessed using Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA).
A total of 11 trials involving 690 critically ill patients were included in the analysis. The NMA of inhaled aromatherapy revealed that the combination of lavender, Matricaria recutita, and neroli essential oils (ratio 6:2:0.5) resulted in the most significant improvement in sleep quality compared to usual care, followed by Rosa damascene, peppermint, Citrus aurantium, pure sunflower oil and lavender oil alone. The overall CoE for the results was rated as low.
The results of this study indicate that a combination of lavender, Matricaria recutita and neroli essential oils significantly positively affected sleep quality among critically ill patients. Despite the low quality of evidence, inhaled aromatherapy is non-invasive and easy to use.
Inhaled aromatherapy can effectively improve sleep quality among critically ill patients.
No patient or public contribution applies to this work.
The study protocol was registered to the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (protocol number CRD42023433194).
Mindfulness-based interventions are becoming increasingly popular and are effective in lowering depressive symptoms and caregiver burden. However, the overall efficacy of therapies in stress and anxiety management is unreported, and no study to date has performed a subgroup analysis to investigate the intervention dose response of outcomes.
To quantitatively identify the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for caregivers of persons living with dementia.
A comprehensive literature search of six databases was undertaken from the date of inception to June 18, 2023. The DerSimonian–Laird model with random effects was used to examine the overall effect and its heterogeneity in the studies. Version 2 of the risk of bias (RoB 2) tool was employed to analyze the publication bias of each randomized study. Funnel and forest plots were created to represent the findings.
Thirteen randomized trials were included in the meta-analysis. Mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduced stress and anxiety of caregivers of persons living with dementia. In addition, interventions provided for ≥8 weeks were beneficial in reducing depression in caregivers. However, mindfulness-based interventions did not offer significant benefits in reducing depression or caregiver burden immediately after the intervention.
Mindfulness-based interventions have the potential to help caregivers of people living with dementia. This study could be used as a model for future research into and implementation of mindfulness-based therapies for caregivers.
Mindfulness-based therapies appear to alleviate stress and anxiety but are ineffective in reducing depression and burden in caregivers of persons living with dementia. Well-designed RCTs with more rigorous methodology and a larger sample size should be conducted to firm the conclusion of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for caregivers of persons living with dementia.