mehdi harorani

Cancer and associated treatment methods present numerous complications, including anorexia and disturbances in sleep patterns. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of reflexology on the symptoms of anorexia and sleep quality among individuals afflicted with cancer.

In this double‑blinded randomized clinical trial, a total of 60 patients undergoing chemotherapy at Khansari Hospital, Arak, Iran, were selected using convenience sampling and then assigned to two groups of control and experimental using blocked randomization (30 patients in each group). The sample intervention group received reflexology in an exceedingly 4‑week amount (two sessions a week), By contrast, the control group was administered a placebo treatment without exerting any pressure on the reflex points during the same time frame. Sleep quality and anorexia in patients were measured using a Pittsburgh questionnaire and visual analog scale before and right after the intervention. Eventually, the data were analyzed, and we used the tests of central tendency, dispersion, independent‑ and paired‑samples t</em>‑tests, and Chi‑square.

The findings of the study revealed a significant improvement in sleep quality and reduction in anorexia symptoms among patients who received reflexology treatment scores (p </em>< 0.001). Conversely, there was no significant difference in the control group before and after the intervention (without pressure effect on the foot points) (p </em>> 0.05).

According to the positive effects on sleep quality and the reduction of anorexia symptoms, it is recommended to incorporate this therapeutic modality along with conventional medication for the treatment of individuals with cancer.

Cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of death all around the world, and the complications of heart disease can reduce the patient's quality of life.Adherence to a therapeutic plan can reduce surgical complications and promote the healing process. This study aimed to survey the relationship between adherence to a therapeutic plan and quality of life in discharged patients after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Descriptive correlational research was carried out to discover relationships among variables. The study was conducted in Hamadan hospital in 2014. Seventyone patients undergoing CABG surgery were selected by convenience sampling method. Before discharge, the patients completed the Mac New Quality of Life Questionnaire and adherence to therapeutic plan questionnaire that included medicine adherence, recommended care, diet and exercise orders, and incentive spirometry. After five weeks, patients again completed the questionnaires, and the data were analyzed. There was a positive and significant relationship  between patients' quality of life and adherence to the treatment plan. As the treatment program increased, the patients' quality of life also increased (r= 0.695, p <0.05). More adherence to treatment plans in patients undergoing CABG surgery leads to the enhancement of the quality of life in patients.

Trauma is one of the most important causes of death in. Therefore, proper management and treatment of these patients can be very beneficial. Therefore, the aim of this literature was to investigate the extent, scope and nature of researches on the effect of insulin therapy on the treatment efficacy of traumatic patients.

This study is a scoping review of research that was conducted by searching in Scopus, PubMed, Embase and ScienceDirect databases with keywords related to insulin therapy and trauma. In this study, all reports with human and animals as well as cohort and clinical trial studies were reviewed.

Of the 4365 studies, 73 studies met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated, most studies examining the effect of insulin on traumatic brain injury and immune system and the fewest were in trunk trauma patients, especially chest trauma. The findings of this study showed the effect of insulin therapy on decreasing levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α thus decreasing the inflammatory response in trauma patients. Insulin therapy can reduce the risk of infection in patients with trauma and burns thereby reducing the number of days spent in intensive care units and dependence on ventilation.

Insulin therapy can be useful in treating trauma patients but increases the rate of hypoglycemic episodes that require careful monitoring of patients’ blood glucose which can have a negative impact on treatment outcomes.

Arterial hypoxia is one of the most common findings in critically ill patients. Inhaled medications in ventilated patients can reduce airway resistance, facilitate dilution, and prevent airway infections. This study aimed to examine the effects of nebulized Eucalyptus (NE) on arterial blood gases (ABG) and physiologic indexes of patients receiving mechanical ventilation (MV).

The current randomized clinical trial was performed in three intensive care units (ICUs) of Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan, Iran. Using purposive sampling method, 70 intubated patients were selected and randomly divided into NE (n=35) and control (n=35) groups. NE group received 4 ml (5%) Eucalyptus in 6 mL normal saline (NS) every 8 hours since intubation to 3 days by a nebulizer. Control group received 10 mL NS in the same way. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and ABG parameters (pH, BE, HCO3, PCO2, SaO2, and PaO2), and the peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and tidal volume (TV) were equally assessed in both intervention and control groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 13.

There was no significant difference between the patients of both groups in terms of vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, and pulse rate), GCS, pH, BE, HCO3, PCO2, SaO2, PaO2, PIP, and TV before the study. Amongst the parameters of ABG, there was a significant difference between PaO2 and SaO2 and PIP in the intervention and control groups 3 days after intervention.

Inhaled Eucalyptus can improve oxygenation and reduce airway pressure in patients undergoing MV.

 Physical activity increases mental health, enhances feelings of worth, reduces depression, and increases mental strength. This study aimed to determine the effect of exercise on the self-esteem and happiness of operating room students.

 This research is a quasi-experimental study. The Participants were 80 undergraduate students in the operating room of Arak University of Medical Sciences. After obtaining written consent, the subjects were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (40 students in each group). The experimental group walked 30 minutes per day for eight weeks. The self-esteem and happiness of both groups were measured before and after the intervention using the Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire and the Oxford happiness questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using an independent t test and paired t test in SPSS v.16 software. 

 The mean scores of self-esteem and happiness before the intervention in the experimental group were 3 ±4.23 and 43.08±19.01, and in the control group were 3.47±4.30 and 39.40±19.48, respectively. After the intervention, The mean scores of self-esteem and happiness were 6 ± 3.85 and 52.16±19.28 in the experimental group and 3.97±4.75 and 41.05±18.80 in the control group. The results showed a significant difference in the experimental group (P <0.05), while in the control group, no significant difference was observed before and after the intervention (P> 0.05).

 Exercise can play an influential role in increasing students’ self-esteem and happiness, thereby promoting their mental health and improving their quality of life. Therefore, it is recommended that sports programs be held at the university to promote happiness and increase students’ self-esteem.

 One of the most typical ways of transmitting the infection is by hand; thus, much emphasis has been placed on hand hygiene. In this regard, this study aimed to determine the effect of tea tree oil and lavender on bacterial samples found in nurses’ hands.

 This quasi-experimental study was performed on all nurses working in ICU wards. The samples were selected by an easy non-probability sampling method. The research tools were demographic information questionnaires and a bacterial culture registration form. In the intervention phase, on the first day in the first experimental group, 2 drops of lavender oil, on the second day, 2 drops of tea tree oil, and on the third day, 2 drops of distilled water were poured on the nurse’s palm, and their hands were massaged for 10 seconds. Before and after the intervention, culture samples were taken from each group. The obtained data were analyzed with the Chi-square test, paired t test, and ANOVA in SPSS software v. 20 at a significant level of less than 0.05.

 The most common organisms isolated at the beginning of the study were Staphylococcus epidermidis (76.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (8.8%), Klebsiella spp. (7.9%), and Escherichia coli (6.5%). The use of lavender oil and tea tree has been effective in reducing the microbial load of the palm. Hand massage with lavender oil had less effect on reducing germs (P=0.003), but tea tree oil had a more significant reduction of pathogens (P=0.001).

 Lavender and tea tree oil reduced the microbial load of nurses. Both methods have been effective, but the effect of tea tree oil was more significant. Therefore, their use in handwashing is recommended to eliminate palm bacteria in ICU staff.

Patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are at risk of eye disorders such as Exposure keratopathy (EK) due to impaired blinking and incomplete eye closure. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of passive blinking exercise (PBE) on EK among patients in ICUs.

This single‑blind, randomized, clinical trial was conducted in 2017. The study participants included 51 patients purposively recruited from the three ICUs of Valiasr Teaching Hospital, Arak, Iran. Through coin tossing, one eye of each participant was randomly allocated to the intervention group and the other to the control group. The eye in the control group received routine eye care, whereas the eye in the intervention group received routine eye care and PBE for a week. EK prevalence and severity were assessed daily for 7 consecutive days using fluorescein eye staining papers and an ophthalmoscope with a cobalt blue filter.

The study groups did not significantly differ from each other in terms of the baseline prevalence and severity of EK. After the intervention, the prevalence of EK (χ</em>2 </em>= 13.44, df = 1, p </em>< 0.001) and the prevalence of grade II EK (χ</em>2 </em>= 8.33, df = 1, p </em>= 0.003) in the intervention group were significantly lower than the control group.

PBE is effective in significantly reducing EK prevalence and severity among patients in ICUs. Therefore, critical care nurses are recommended to use PBE for EK prevention and management.

Professionalism is among the major concepts of nursing. Besides, nursing professionalism is often associated with attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors that underlie the successful clinical practice. Personality traits can affect various aspects of an individual’s life. Accordingly, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between personality traits and nursing professionalism. 

A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted on 205 nurses in teaching hospitals of Khoramabad City, Iran, in 2017. The study subjects were recruited by the stratified sampling method. NEO Personality Inventory and Goze Professional Behavior questionnaire were used to collect the required information. Then, the obtained data were analyzed by SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics. 

Nursing professionalism had a direct relationship with extraversion (r=0.330, P<0.05), conscientiousness (r=0.333, P<0.05), and agreeableness (r=0.172, P=0.014); it also had an inversed relationship with neuroticism (r=- 0.161, P=0.021). 

The Big Five personality traits are strongly related to nursing professionalism; with conscientiousness and extraversion as the most pronounced traits. Nurses’ attitudes are partly rooted in their personality traits and these attitudes affect the nurse-patient relationship. Therefore, it is suggested that these characteristics be considered in appointing nurses in different departments.

The endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure must be kept within the range of 20 to 30 cmH2O in order to prevent tube displacement and air leakage, maintain the circulation of the tracheal capillaries, and prevent the aspiration of oral and gastric contents to the lower parts of the respiratory tract. This study aimed to determine the ETT cuff pressure and appropriate intervals for measuring it in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients after cardiac surgery with general anesthesia admitted to ICUs between May and November 2017. For each research unit, the ETT cuff pressure was measured twice at a 6-hour interval using a cuff pressure manometer. Descriptive (ie, mean, standard deviation, and frequency distribution) and inferential (ie, t-test, Pearson, and ANOVA) statistics were used to describe the data. All the ETT cuff pressure measurements were performed with a calibrated manometer. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 22.0.

The mean ETT cuff pressure was 38.3 ± 24.9 cmH2O. In the first measurement, the ETT cuff pressure was normal in only 17% of the subjects, while this figure increased to 78% after the 6-hour control period and cuff-pressure correction. There was a significant relationship between the number of days of intubation and the ETT cuff pressure in both first (P = 0.003) and second (P = 0.01) measurements.

The ETT cuff pressure often exceeds the recommended normal range, which can serve as a reminder that it may be necessary to control it at shorter intervals to avoid complications caused by increases or decreases in the cuff pressure. (Iranian Heart Journal 2020; 21(3): 33-39)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common problems in adolescents. Risky behaviors in patients with ADHD are due to impaired impulse control resulting from problems with inhibition of proponent responses, controlling interference, and stopping ongoing responses after feedback on errors. The present study investigated the relationship between ADHD and risky driving behavior and the likelihood of car accident in Arak, Iran, in 2015-16.

This case-control study was conducted in the Emergency Department of Vali-Asr hospital in Arak (Iran) on drivers who met the inclusion criteria. The data gathering tools included the Demographic Questionnaire, Manchester Driving Behavior Questionnaire (MDBQ), and Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20 software.

The mean of ADHD (±SD) was higher among cases (81.64 [26.78]) than in controls (64 [24.28], P = 0.000). The mean of risky driving behaviors (±SD) was higher among cases (66.41[26.78]) than in controls (36.79 [25.42]). There was a significant relationship between ADHD, risky behavior, lapse errors, slips, deliberate ‎violation, and unintentional violation and car accident (P = 0.000).

This study showed that ADHD increases the risk of road crashes and motor vehicle injuries. These drivers tend to drive at unauthorized speed, have less control over the vehicle, drive more carelessly, and are more likely to have an accident.

A prolonged hospital stay causes bed occupancy rates and increases hospital costs. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the ICU length of stay after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 346 patients undergoing CABG between March 2015 and September 2016 were ed through convenience sampling. Based on their ICU length of stay, the patients were divided into 2 groups: ICU length of stay ≤ 72 hours (3 d) (Group A) and ICU length of stay > 72 hours (Group B).

Among the 346 patients studied, 93 (27%) patients had an ICU length of stay ≥ 72 hours and 253 (73%) patients had an ICU length of stay < 72 hours. There was no statistically significant difference in the ICU length of stay between the women and men (P = 0.536). The subjects with a history of diabetes and hypertension were more likely to stay in the ICU for a longer period. For the patients with an ICU stay > 72 hours, the number of blood products received; the use of inotropes; the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass; the duration of intubation; cardiac, pulmonary, neural, and renal complications; infection, receiving inotropes in the ICU; postoperative bleeding; return to the operating room; receiving blood; and a history of bleeding were among the influential factors during the patients’ stay in the ICU.

The results of this study showed that the factors increasing the ICU length of stay after CABG were old age, a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, a prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, receiving inotropes, prolonged intubation, the use of the intra-aortic balloon pump, receiving blood products, and postoperative bleeding. 

Gastrointestinal (GI) complications occur after 0.4–2.9% of cardiac surgery procedures. Although infrequent, GI complications constitute some of the most serious complications of cardiac surgery with a high associated morbidity and mortality rate of 14–63%. In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of and the risk factors for GI complications following open=heart surgery. In this retrospective study, 800 adult patients who underwent valvular surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), combined procedures, aortic surgery, and the surgical correction of adult congenital heart defects in Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical, and Research Center between April 2014 and May 2016 were studied. The clinical data on any GI complication—including its incidence, characteristics, diagnostic measures, mortality, and medical or surgical management—were retrospectively analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using a non-paired Student t-test and the χ2 test. A total of 800 patients underwent open cardiac surgery: 340 (42.5%) had CABG, 290 (36.3%) had valve surgery, 120 (15%) had combined procedures (valve surgery CABG), 15 (1.9%) had aortic surgery, and 35 (4.3%) had congenital defect correction. Among these patients, GI complications were seen in 36 patients, with an incidence rate of 4.5%. The total mortality rate was 11.1%. Our results revealed that advanced age, a prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, prolonged mechanical ventilation, a history of peptic ulcer, and the use of inotropic support or intra-aortic balloon pumps were the risk factors for GI complications after cardiac surgery. GI complications following cardiac surgery have a low incidence rate but high morbidity and mortality rates. Primary detection and prompt appropriate intervention are essential for the outcome of the patients.

Because media have an essential role in people’s insight into different professions, this study was carried out to investigate the part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in the public attitude toward the nursing profession in people living in Arak City, Iran. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the first six months of 2018. The study sample comprised 400 citizens who were selected by cluster sampling method. The public engagement with Iran national broadcasting and the people’s perspective toward nursing profession were measured using two researcher-made questionnaires. The obtained data were analyzed by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient in SPSS V. 16. The results showed that 67% of the participants have engaged with the media. The average score of non-professional (65.15±11.21) attitude toward the nursing profession was more than the professional attitudes level 1 (64.40±12.03) and level 2 (18.44±3.58). Engagement with national media was associated with non-professional attitude toward nursing (P=0.032) while it was not related to professional attitude level 1 (P=0.62) and level 2 (P=0.22).  The results of this study indicated that people’s engagement with the media is related to the creation of a non-professional attitude toward nursing profession, i.e. the more people interact with broadcasting, the less professional attitude toward nursing they have. Producing programs which shows a real professional and accurate picture of nurses in Iran broadcasting are recommended.

The use of nuclear technology in various industrial, medical, and basic science fields has been expanded over recent years. Since the Possibility of nuclear accidents and injuries is an inevitable fact, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and preparedness of the medical staff at teaching hospitals in the city of Arak, Iran, toward potential nuclear injuries.
This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 2015 to assess the knowledge and preparedness of 700 medical staff at the teaching hospitals in the city of Arak, Iran, toward potential nuclear injuries and their diagnosis and treatment. Based on the protocols of International Atomic Energy Agency and World Health Organization, two separate questionnaires for physicians and nurses were devised and provided to them after verifying their validity and reliability. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS16.
A total of 630 nurses and 70 physicians participated in this study. The results showed that 50.8% of the participants had a basic knowledge of nuclear accidents and 45.6% of them had no information in this regard. More than 67.1% of the physicians and 77.6% of the nurses admitted that they knew nothing about the protocols for decontamination and treatment of nuclear injuries.
In this study, the preparedness of the hospitals and knowledge of the nurses and physicians were evaluated as poor. Since this project was conducted with experts, the results are striking. Therefore, considering the development of peaceful uses of nuclear technology and its localization in Iran, the authorities should pay special attention to this issue and take quick and serious measures and strategies to enhance knowledge and performance of medical staff

Given the negative impact of cancer on the quality of life, low self-efficacy and self-esteem are common in the patients suffering from cancer. This study aims to determine the relationship between self-efficacy and self-esteem in these patients. This study was descriptive and cross-sectional and was conducted in Ayatollah Khansari Hospital in Arak. The obtained data were collected from 160 eligible patients diagnosed with cancer using Coopersmith self-esteem inventory and the strategies used by people to promote health and then analyzed in SPSS V. 20. Spearman correlation showed a significant relationship between the subscales and the total score of self-efficacy and self-esteem score (P<0.05). Also, linear regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy could significantly predict self-esteem (P<0.05). Self-efficacy had a direct relationship with self-esteem. By improving self-efficacy, self-esteem will increase and lead to more self-care compliance and initiative in cancer patients.

Postoperative hyperbilirubinemia is one of the complications of cardiopulmonary bypass. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and nature of postoperative jaundice in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, to analyze the determinants, and to identify the clinical significance of this complication with regard to the associated morbidity and mortality.
This prospective, descriptive study was conducted on 600 patients between 2014 and 2015 in Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical, and Research Center, Tehran, Iran. Six hundred adult patients candidated for open heart surgery were divided into 3 groups. Group A comprised 200 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), Group B 200 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) CABG, and Group C 200 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) CAB. Aminotransferases (ALT and AST), alkaline phosphatase, and both types of bilirubin (total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin) were determined at admission. Liver function tests were conducted preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th postoperative days. These data were categorized and analyzed. The presence of jaundice was associated with elevated serum bilirubin levels above 3 mg/dL.
Hyperbilirubinemia developed in 150 (25%) patients. The incidence of postoperative jaundice was higher in the patients who underwent MVR CABG than in those who underwent CABG and AVR CABG. Hyperbilirubinemia was correlated with prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (P Although hyperbilirubinemia seems to be multifactorial, the type of surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, hypotension during the pump, and number of blood transfusions seem to determine the incidence of jaundice.

Occupational violence increasingly has been known as a problem in health care system. Emergency personnel, because of direct contact with patients and their relatives are exposed of the most invasions. Multiple refers to emergency unit than other hospital parts increase threat occurrences, physical and verbal violence and cause to physical and mental injury in medical personnel. In Gerberich et al viewpoint, working in ICU (intensive care unit), psychological and emergency unit is of important factors for exposure of violence. This study aims to determine the vulnerable factors of occupational violence against practitioner medical personnel in the emergency units of training hospitals of Arak city.
In this descriptive-sectional study, 108 of practitioner medical personnel of the emergency units were studied in verbal and physical violence in 1394. Studied society were practitioner medical personnel of emergency unit of training hospitals of Vali-Asr, Amir- Almumenin and Amir-Kabir of Arak. Entry measures were self-desire of personnel in all educational levels and occupational grades with one year work experience in current unit in turning shift. In order to collect information of violence in work place questionnaire in health units were used which include four parts (demographic information, threat, verbal and physical violence). This questionnaire is derived from standardized questionnaires of international labor office, WHO, international council of nurses, public services international which are balanced based on environmental and social conditions and its reliability and validity were confirmed. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21.
Ethical Considerations: This paper is a part of issued investigational plan of medical sciences of Arak University, by ethical committee confirmation of IR.ARAKMU.REC.1394.148. The goal of study was explained for participants and secrecy and anonymity were ensured to them. Also, verbal satisfaction was obtained from medical personnel for contribution in study.
Findings: Participants had average age of 31.45±6.26 years, total work experience mean 6.85±5.09 years and work experience mean 3.49±3.22 years in emergency unit. 28.7% of medical personnel were exposed of physical violence and 77.1% of them were exposed of verbal violence. 17.9% of participants reported verbal violence very much, 20.2% moderate and 36.9% low or very low. The most motivating reason of violence was crowdedness of unit and the most factors resulted to physical and verbal violence was patient's relatives. The most physical violence factor (856.4%) and verbal (60.5%) were for relatives.
Findings showed high prevalence of violence, especially verbal violence against medical personnel. According to occupational characteristics of practitioner personnel in emergency unit, it can be said that violence emergence in work place is inevitable and impossible work. Therefore, the best approach is to identify amount and vulnerable factors in regions violence and to program for reducing its occurrences as low as possible. It should be noted that workplace violence is a multidimensional problem which its destructive dimensions has adverse effects on emergency personnel performance and also on hospital performance. Thus, creating a supportive environment, preparing continual training programs, financial resources and enough human force, restricting visit hours, also observation and answering in patients care are recommended in order to successful performing care programs. In this study, violence was forced from patient relatives more which can be prevented by managing, planning and public training.

Emergency department (ED) is one of the most important wards in a hospital and its function can deeply affect the function of other wards and patient satisfaction. Therefore, the speed of providing services in ED is of great importance in order to decrease mortality and disabilities. Thus, the present study was done with the aim of evaluating timing of services in 2 teaching hospitals in Arak.
In this crosssectional study, researchers were present in the hospitals for 3 months in various working shifts and recorded the time of the patients’ presentation to triage unit. They also recorded the times of physician’s visit, sending samples to laboratory and receiving their results, radiography performance, and decision making in a checklist using a chronometer.
In the present study, 200 patients with the mean age of 45.8 ± 2.5 years participated (53.5% male). The findings of the study showed that mean time interval between triage and physician’s visit was 8.1 ± 4.3 minutes, time between visit and the first treatment measure was 8.7 ± 2.3 minutes, time between ordering a test and receiving results was 60.9 ± 17.5 minutes, time between ordering radiography and getting the results was 55.4 ± 18.1 minutes, time between ordering electrocardiography and getting the results was 5.4 ± 2.3 minutes and the patient’s length of stay in ED was 6.9 ± 3.3 hours.
It seems that although the timing of providing the studied services is less than similar studies in some cases, it is still far from the international standards.

Increases in vital signs are common problems in burn patients. It is useful to decrease these changes within the normal limit in cardiac patients and older adults. This study aimed to investigate the effect of inhalation aromatherapy with Damask Rose essential oil on vital signs after dressing changes in burn patients.
A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 50 patients in burn unit of Beast Teaching Hospital in Hamadan from September to October¡ 2013. Patients were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. The vital signs of the patients were recorded thirty minutes before entering the dressing change room¡ where patients in the experimental group inhaled five drops of Damask Rose essential oil 40% as aromatherapy and patients in the control group inhaled five drops of distilled water as placebo. After changing the dressing¡ the vital signs were recorded 15 and 30 minutes after exiting the dressing change room. Data were analyzed in SPSS/16 using statistical tests.
Although aromatherapy with Damask Rose essence significantly decreases increased pulse rates after dressing changes (p>0.05)¡ it does not decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate.
Inhalation aromatherapy with Damask Rose can decrease increased pulse rates due to dressing changes¡ and can be used in critical situations as a safe complementary treatment.