The Effect of Aromatherapy with Peppermint Essential Oil on Nausea and Vomiting in the Acute Phase of Chemotherapy in Patients with Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapy is one of the main treatment options for cancer patients. Nausea and vomiting are also the most common side effects of chemotherapy drugs. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil on nausea and vomiting in the acute phase of chemotherapy (the first 24 hours) in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 100 women with breast cancer who were referred to the chemotherapy centers of Imam Khomeini Hospital on an outpatient basis for the first course. Patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Peppermint essential oil was used in the intervention group, while normal saline was used in the control group. Frequency and severity of acute nausea and vomiting in the first night after chemotherapy were recorded and compared using Rhodes standard questionnaire with a mean score of 0 – 32. FINDINGS: The two groups were not statistically different in terms of age, duration of cancer, history of alcohol abuse and history of nausea and vomiting. The mean score of nausea in the aromatherapy group was 1.1±1.02 and in the in the control group was 1.82±1.39 (p<0.014). The mean score of vomiting in the intervention group was 0.34±0.66 and in the control group was 0.66±0.97 (p<0.032). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the use of aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil, along with the use of routine anti-nausea / vomiting drugs, can reduce nausea and vomiting in the acute phase of chemotherap

The Survey of Educational Facilities and Present the Kinds of Program Staff Development of Nursing Staff in Hospitals of University of Medical Sciences & Health Services in Tehran

This study is a descriptive research in order to determine educational facilities and present the kinds of program staff development of nursing office in hospitals of university of medical sciences and health services in Tehran, IRAN. The purpose of this research was determinated of the educational space (clossroom, library, Lecture and conference room), educational equipment, educational staff patterns, kinds of nursing staff development program and comparing between educational facilities and present the kinds of nursing development program of nursing office in three medical science university in Tehran. The units that participated in this research was 41 educational facilities and kinds of nursing staff development program of nursing office in three medical science university in Tehran (Tehran, Iran and shahid Beheshti) and no samphing was made. The tools was check list and Questionnarie. Each variable compared with educational standards of hospitals. (Standard 1100% excellent, desire was above 75% and undesired was under 75% and each 100 active bed haveing one educational supervisor)."nThe finding indicated that scale confirmity with standard about educational space in three university was 50% (undesirable) and about educational equipment was 56% (undesirable) and about educational staffing pattern was 79% (desirable) and present kinds of nursing staff development was 56.5% (undesirable). The finding indicated that university medical of science Iran 66.5%, Shahid Beheshti 59.76% and Tehran 55.3% Scale confirmity with stundards have prossess