Evaluating the effect of Lemongrass aromatherapy on reducing the anxiety of patients undergoing scaling and root planing

Determining the effect of aromatherapy with Lemongrass in reducing the anxiety of patients undergoing scaling and root planing (SRP)

randomized, unblinded, controlled clinical trial with parallel group design of 40 patients, PASS 2021 software was used for randomization.

40 eligible patients from Yazd Dental Faculty will be divided into two groups using stratified randomization. During SRP, the intervention group will receive aromatherapy with lemongrass essential oil, while the control group will receive distilled water. Before and after aromatherapy, the patients' subjective and objective anxiety will be measured using the state scale of Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and physiological indicators (blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen), respectively. The level of perceived pain during treatment and treatment satisfaction will also be assessed after aromatherapy.

Entry criteria: Age between 25 and 50 years; having periodontitis stage II to IV and grade A or B Non-entry criteria: History of SRP; systemic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and lung problems; smoking; history of allergy to certain medicinal plants; having problems such as nasal congestion; loss of sense of smell due to Covid-19, etc; being diagnosed with sinusitis; being diagnosed with anxiety disorders; pregnancy; breastfeeding; receiving chemotherapy; taking pain relievers; taking anti-anxiety medications; taking medications that affect heart rate and blood pressure; taking antiseizure medications; taking immunosuppressive medications

Intervention group: This group will receive aromatherapy with lemongrass essential oil during SRP treatment Control group: For this group, during SRP treatment, distilled water will be used instead of lemongrass essential oil

The level of anxiety

Randomization is done in the form of simple stratified randomization . The strata include age variable in two groups (aged 25-37 and aged 38-50) and gender in two groups, and in total, random allocation is done in 4 separate layers, 10 samples considered in each layer. First, the age and gender are determined and the eligible individual is entered into the study in one of the 4 layers based on the random allocation table. Using PASS 2021 software, we will generate a random sequence using a simple random allocation method. The output of the software in the form of an Excel file includes the sequence from 1 to 40, the strata and unique codes for the research units. After determining the stratum based on age and gender for the eligible individuals, a number from 1 to 10 is considered for each person; and the person is assigned to an intervention group (A or B). The first eligible patient is assigned number 1, the second is assigned number 2, and so on, up to 10 patients in each stratum, and this is repeated for all the 4 strata. Allocation concealment: In order to blindly assign the patients randomly, we will ask for the help of a third person who is unaware of the interventions and this table is given to them. When a patient eligible for the study visits, based on the patient's code, the intervention group will be asked from the third person over the phone and the patient will be assigned to one of the groups.