Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of orange essence aromatherapy on anxiety in school-age children with diabetes, as anxiety reduction would be expected to have a positive impact on health in this population. This clinical trial enrolled 60 children with diabetes, who were randomized to either the experimental or the control group (30 in each group). For the children in the experimental group, two drops of orange essence were poured on to a strip of gauze inside an open box, which was then held at a 5-cm distance from the child's nose. The children were then asked to breathe deeply for a span of 2 minutes. The control group received only routine care for diabetes. Data were collected using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventoryand the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19 to perform descriptive and analytical statistical tests. No significant difference was observed between children's anxiety inthe experimental and control groups (P>.05) prior to the use of orange essence aromatherapy. After the therapeutic intervention, the anxiety of the experimental group significantly decreased compared to that before the intervention (P<.05). Orange aromatherapy, which is nonpharmacological and non-invasive, may be a useful complementary medical treatment for the management of anxiety in children with diabetes.