This study aimed to investigate the effect of Damask rose aromatherapy on pain and anxiety in primiparas during the incubation and latent periods of the first stage of labor. The study randomly divided participants into aroma, placebo, and control groups. The control group received daily care, while the aroma group received at least 30 minutes of aromatherapy. The placebo group received the same aromatherapy device as the aroma group but inhaled saline. Pain, anxiety, and uterine contractions were measured at enrollment and at 30, 60, and 120 minutes. Data from 76 participants were analyzed, and the results showed that the aroma group had lower anxiety and pain scores than the placebo and control groups at 60 and 120 minutes. Additionally, the effect gradually appeared and was maintained even with increased contractions. Damask rose aromatherapy can be used as a safe and effective adjuvant therapy for reducing the anxiety and pain of women in the latent period of labor.

Owing to the prevalence of maternal mental health problems and the negative effects on both the mothers and infants, this research was conducted to analyze symptoms of maternal emotion and its trajectories during childbirth.

In this prospective study, Women undergoing vaginal delivery in full-term single pregnancies were enrolled. Symptoms of maternal emotion in the process of childbirth through the scale of Profile Mood States (POMS), encompassing seven dimensions: nervousness, anger, fatigue, depression, confusion, vigour, and self-esteem. All participants were evaluated for their mood state three times, during the latency period (T1), the active period (T2), and the immediate postpartum period (T3).

244 pregnant women were included. Before delivery, there were nervousness, confusion, fatigue and other emotions. As the delivery progressed, negative emotional symptoms intensified, particularly nervousness, fatigue, and confusion, accompanied by a marked decline in vigour. Once the delivery was over, the mood gradually calmed down, mainly positive emotions were observed. There was an evident association between vigour and fatigue only at T3. Confusion, depression, fatigue and nervousness constituted the core symptom group during labor, affecting other emotions of pregnant women. All the network diagrams during the three periods were all stable.

Confusion, depression, fatigue and nervousness constituted the core symptom group during labor. Attaching more importance to the effect of social psychological factors on childbirth, conducting maternal positive mental health education, and adopting maternal case management is imperative.

ChiCTR2000038546; 23/09/2020.

Meta-analysis can pool multiple studies to explore a particular area in depth, therefore this method was used to explore the clinical efficacy of inhalation aromatherapy for the treatment of comorbid insomnia and provide an empirical evidence for clinical treatment.

The PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI Database, Wanfang Database, and VIP Database were searched for randomized controlled trials on aromatherapy for the treatment of comorbid insomnia from inception to August 30, 2023. RevMan 5.3 was used for meta-analysis of the results.

A total of 27 publications involving 2072 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that inhalation aromatherapy well relieved the symptoms of comorbid insomnia (MD -2.90, 95% CI: -3.85 to -1.95, p<0.00001) and the negative mental state of anxiety (MD -3.97, 95% CI: -5.88 to -2.06, p<0.0001) and depression (MD -9.58, 95% CI: -15.13 to -4.03, p=0.0007) in patients. Included studies were heterogeneous, and the factors influencing the heterogeneity were not identified. These studies commonly presented issues such as lack of blinding, and absence of independent testing for the purity or potency of herbs.

Inhalation aromatherapy can improve the sleep quality of patients with other disease states, with basically no adverse reactions and acceptable safety. Therefore, inhalation aromatherapy is expected to become an indispensable complementary therapy in clinical practice for most diseases. However, high-quality clinical trials are still needed to confirm these findings due to methodological weaknesses in blinding and independent testing for the purity and potency of herbs.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023455278.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a variety of ancient therapies with origins in cultures such as those of China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, India, and Rome. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) classifies these integrative therapies into five categories: (1) mind-body therapies, (2) biological practices, (3) manipulative and body practices, (4) energy medicine, and (5) whole medical systems, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. This review explores the role of biological practices utilizing aromatic plants, particularly through inhalation aromatherapy and massage with essential oils, as effective complementary strategies within health systems. The review compiles information on the most commonly used plants and essential oils for holistic health maintenance from a complementary and alternative perspective. Given their accessibility and relative safety compared to conventional treatments, these therapies have gained popularity worldwide. Furthermore, the integration of essential oils has been shown to alleviate various psychological and physiological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disorders, neuropathic pain, nausea, and menopausal symptoms. Among the studied plants, lavender has emerged as being particularly notable due to its broad spectrum of therapeutic effects and its designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as "Generally Recognized as Safe". Other essential oils under investigation include eucalyptus, damask rose, sandalwood, vetiver, calamus, frankincense, chamomile, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, orange, sage, rosemary, garlic, and black pepper. This study emphasizes the potential benefits of these aromatic plants in enhancing patient well-being. Additionally, it underscores the importance of conducting further research to ensure the safety and efficacy of these therapies.

Labor pain presents significant challenges during childbirth, necessitating effective pain management strategies. Auriculotherapy, a non-pharmacological intervention targeting specific ear points, has been explored as a potential solution for alleviating labor pain.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of auriculotherapy in reducing labor pain intensity and improving maternal satisfaction.

The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception until December 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating auriculotherapy as an intervention for labor pain management.

Two authors independently conducted literature selection based on predefined criteria (i.e., RCTs assessing auriculotherapy for labor pain management).

Data extraction was performed independently by two authors, and a random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. The pooled mean difference (MD), with a 95% confidence interval (CI), was calculated to estimate the effect size.

The primary outcome was labor pain intensity measured on the visual analog scale.

Meta-analysis of five RCTs involving 451 patients revealed a significant reduction in labor pain following auriculotherapy compared with no treatment (MD, -1.78; 95% CI, -2.62 to -0.93). However, significant heterogeneity was observed among the included studies (I2, 87%; p < 0.01).

Despite the observed heterogeneity, this meta-analysis suggests that auriculotherapy holds promise as a non-pharmacological intervention for alleviating labor pain. Further investigation is warranted to refine auriculotherapy protocols and assess its long-term effects, thereby enhancing its potential as a viable option for labor pain management.

With the increasing prevalence of tumors, effective symptom management has emerged as a cornerstone of patient care. While surgical interventions remain pivotal, non-surgical nursing methods have gained prominence in providing relief from pain, discomfort, and other tumor-related symptoms. This review delves into the various non-surgical approaches employed, emphasizing tumor sedation and analgesia. We discuss the array of non-pharmacological and pharmacological strategies, shedding light on their indications, contraindications, and potential side effects. Furthermore, the importance of addressing individual differences in pain perception and the ethical considerations in symptom management are highlighted. We conclude by providing insights into the recent innovations in the field, emphasizing the need for personalized and comprehensive care to enhance patients' quality of life. Tumor sedation, Tumor analgesia, Non-surgical nursing care, Pain management, Non-pharmacological interventions, Palliative care, Recent innovations, Symptom management.

Background A perineal tear refers to any injury to the female genitalia during labor, which can occur spontaneously or with the use of instruments. An episiotomy, a surgical procedure, is sometimes performed to enlarge the vaginal orifice to facilitate delivery. Ineffective management of labor pain can result in negative physiological and psychosocial outcomes. Objective This study aims to investigate the effect of warm compresses on the perineal area during active labor. Methods This quasi-experimental study utilized a convenience sample, dividing 80 mothers into intervention and control groups. Participants were randomly assigned to groups after meeting the inclusion criteria and signing consent forms. The inclusion criteria encompassed pregnant women aged 18 years or older with a healthy singleton pregnancy, a cephalic presentation, and a gestational age of 37 weeks or more. The women were in the active phase of the first stage of labor (6-7 cm cervical dilation). In Part I, a data collection tool was developed to gather sociodemographic data, obstetrical history, and initial assessment information. Part II assessed perineal pain using the Visual Analogue Scale. Part III collected data on the perineal status post-delivery, and Part IV gathered information about the newborns. The research was conducted in the labor unit at East Jeddah Hospital, with data collection occurring from November 2022 to February 2023. Results The results of this study revealed that the mean second-stage labor pain score was 9.73 for the control group and 8.68 for the intervention group. In the third stage of labor, the mean pain score was 4.52 for the control group and 2.75 for the intervention group. During the fourth stage of labor, the mean pain score for the control group was 2.90, compared to 1.50 for the intervention group. In terms of perineal outcomes, 17 participants (42.5%) in the intervention group had an intact perineum, compared to 11 participants (27.5%) in the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the episiotomy rate between the two groups. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that applying a warm compress to the perineal area during active labor can enhance perineal intactness and significantly reduce perineal pain. Future research could explore the challenges nurses encounter when applying warm compresses to the perineum during labor.

Currently, aromatherapy is being increasingly utilized in clinical practice, particularly in managing the side effects associated with radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. However, it remains to be established whether aromatherapy can effectively alleviate these symptoms.

To investigate the effects of aromatherapy on the physical and mental health of patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Seven databases were researched from inception until September 29, 2023, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, China Biology Medicine disc and VIP Chinese Medical Journal Database. Review Manager version 5.3 was utilized for data analysis. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool RoB2 was employed to evaluate the quality of the literature included in the study. Evidence quality rating was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach through the GRADEpro GDT online tool.

Nineteen studies involving 1,541 patients were included. Aromatherapy can alleviate nausea [relative risk (RR)=0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53 to 0.78, P<0.05, I2=46%; standardized mean difference (SMD)=-0.86, 95% CI: -1.21 to -0.51, P<0.05, I2=64%] and vomiting (RR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.69, P<0.05, I2=35%; SMD=-1.28, 95% CI: -1.52 to -1.03, P<0.05, I2=92%), improve sleep disorders [mean difference (MD)=-3.39, 95% CI: -3.95 to -2.84, P<0.05, I2=0%], relieve pain (SMD=-1.58, 95% CI: -1.96 to -1.21, P<0.05, I2=0%), mitigate fatigue (SMD=-1.28, 95% CI: -2.44 to -0.11, P<0.05, I2=93%) and enhance quality of life (SMD=0.50, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.79, P<0.05, I2=0%) in cancer patients after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but it may not have a significant effect on anxiety. The risk of bias was high in the included studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool RoB2, and no studies were considered to be of high grade according to the GRADE system.

Aromatherapy is an efficacious, safe and economic adjunctive therapy for cancer patients, which can mend the physical symptoms and mental health of cancer patients. However, more high-quality studies are needed to verify it. (PROSPERO registration No. CRD42023390171).

Women with perinatal anxiety have reduced coping capacity during labor, which affects labor progress and increases the likelihood of a cesarean section. Several non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety during childbirth are available. This study used the "lite touch" method, a non-pharmacological intervention based on physiological responses and obstetric clinical experience in women. We aimed to evaluate whether lite touch could relieve perinatal anxiety and investigate the effect of light skin stroking on the maternal hormones, catecholamine, and cortisol.

This randomized clinical trial involved women with low-risk singleton pregnancies at full term or near term. Eligible pregnant women who were latent and did not undergo epidural anesthesia were randomized into two groups. Participants in the intervention group underwent routine prenatal care, including lite touch, whereas the control group underwent routine prenatal care alone. Demographic data were collected through a questionnaire. Labor anxiety was assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory, and saliva was collected before and after the intervention. Changes in saliva cortisol and catecholamine levels were analyzed using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

In total, 83 participants were included, with 43 and 40 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. In the intervention group, pre-intervention anxiety scores were significantly lower (p < 0.01) than post-intervention anxiety scores, whereas the control group showed no difference in anxiety scores before and after intervention (p > 0.05). Cortisol and catecholamine levels in saliva were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention (p < 0.01).

Lite touch can reduce the latent anxiety state of low-risk pregnant women, thereby maintaining in vivo stability and facilitating labor.

https://www.chictr.org.cn/aboutEN.html, ChiCTR2300070905, Retrospectively Registered Date: April 26, 2023.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, medical staff and academic department workers reported increasing levels of stress and burnout because of strain on the health care system. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this strain and introduced several novel stressors, which included transitioning to remote work. Safe and scalable strategies are needed to help health care workers cope with these stressors. Aromatherapy may help address this need.

To assess the effect of 2 aromatherapy interventions (essential oil blends termed STILL and FOCUS) on perceived mental/psychological health parameters for academic department workers working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants were advised to use STILL for 5 days (Monday through Friday). After a 2-day washout period (Saturday and Sunday), participants were instructed to use FOCUS for 5 days (Monday through Friday). Participants completed a visual analog scale survey evaluating restlessness, fatigue, anxiety, stress, happiness, energy, relaxation, calmness, and well-being before and after each of the 2 intervention periods.

Twenty academic department remote workers participated in the study. Mental/psychological health surveys were completed by 6 participants before and after using STILL and by 10 before and after using FOCUS. Five participants answered all survey questions before and after both interventions. Although mean (SD) perceived stress scores improved after both the STILL (4.3 [2.3] vs 1.8 [1.7], P = .03) and FOCUS (2.9 [2.3] vs 1.5 [1.4], P = .02) interventions, this improvement was not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction (adjusted α = .006). Most participants (73.3%) reported that participating in the study was worthwhile, and 81.3% indicated that they would recommend aromatherapy to others.

The STILL and FOCUS aromatherapy interventions did not significantly improve mental/psychological health parameters for remote academic department workers, although perceived stress was marginally improved and participants reported a perceived benefit from using aromatherapy.

The birth of a child is a critical and potentially traumatic experience for women, entailing multiple physiological and psychosocial changes. The psychological effects of childbirth pain can have both immediate and long-term effects on the mother's health and her bond with her child. Many studies investigated the different ranges of synthetic drugs available for pain control in labour, inclusive of neuraxial analgesics, inhaled analgesics, and various opioids. The inadequate efficacy and unfavourable side effects of these synthetic drugs prevent appropriate pharmacotherapy, resulting in a quest for natural therapies for reducing labour pain. Herbal therapies (aromatherapy) using several essential oils obtained from various natural plants are another alternative that calms and manages the mind and body through aromatic compounds that have neurological and physiological effects. The review discussed the safety profile of various synthetic drugs with their dosage information and also deliberated on the mechanism and safety profile of various natural plants that are used in aromatherapy. The review also briefly highlighted the other non-pharmacological miscellaneous techniques such as TENS, hypnosis, immersion in water, acupuncture, massage, and different other tactics that aim to assist women in coping with pain in labour.

Childbirth is a remarkable, life-changing process and is frequently regarded as an excruciating, physically and emotionally demanding experience that women endure. Labor pain management poses a significant challenge for obstetricians and expectant mothers. Although pharmacological pain management is the gold standard, it still imposes risks on the mother and baby. Recently, non-pharmacological pain management (NPPM) has emerged as a safe, effective option. Six databases were searched for articles published up to 2023 using specific related keywords and defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The extraction and gathering of data was made so as to be categorized into physical, psychological, and complementary NPPM techniques. In light of the enormous development and diversity of NPPM techniques, the present review aims to examine contemporary NPPM knowledge and application, discussing efficacy, advantages, limitations, and potential adverse effects, with a specific focus on women's individual requirements, to strengthen obstetricians' knowledge in guiding decision-making for women in childbirth.

Primiparas are usually at high risk of experiencing perinatal depression, which may cause prolonged labor, increased blood loss, and intensified pain, affecting maternal and fetal outcomes. Therefore, interventions are necessary to improve maternal and fetal outcomes and alleviate primiparas' negative emotions (NEs).

To discusses the impact of nursing responsibility in midwifery and postural and psychological interventions on maternal and fetal outcomes as well as primiparas' NEs.

As participants, 115 primiparas admitted to Quanzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital between May 2020 and May 2022 were selected. Among them, 56 primiparas (control group, Con) were subjected to conventional midwifery and routine nursing. The remaining 59 (research group, Res) were subjected to the nursing model of midwifery and postural and psychological interventions. Both groups were comparatively analyzed from the perspectives of delivery mode (cesarean, natural, or forceps-assisted), maternal and fetal outcomes (uterine inertia, postpartum hemorrhage, placental abruption, neonatal pulmonary injury, and neonatal asphyxia), NEs (Hamilton Anxiety/Depression-rating Scale, HAMA/HAMD), labor duration, and nursing satisfaction.

The Res exhibited a markedly higher natural delivery rate and nursing satisfaction than the Con. Additionally, the Res indicated a lower incidence of adverse events (e.g., uterine inertia, postpartum hemorrhage, placental abruption, neonatal lung injury, and neonatal asphyxia) and shortened duration of various stages of labor. It also showed statistically lower post-interventional HAMA and HAMD scores than the Con and pre-interventional values.

The nursing model of midwifery and postural and psychological interventions increase the natural delivery rate and reduce the duration of each labor stage. These are also conducive to improving maternal and fetal outcomes and mitigating primiparas' NEs and thus deserve popularity in clinical practice.

To explore the efficacy and safety of different doses of dexmedetomidine (DEX) for epidural labor analgesia (ELA).

From June 2021 to June 2022, 147 parturients who underwent ELA in our hospital were selected and divided into low- (0.5 μg/kg DEX), medium- (0.75 μg/kg DEX), and high-dose (1.0 μg/kg DEX) groups (n = 49 for each) according to the random number table method. The analgesic effect was assessed using the Ramsay sedation score and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the labor duration, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) before and after analgesia, vaginal bleeding within 2 h postpartum, and delivery outcomes (the cesarean section conversion rate and the neonatal Apgar score) were statistically analyzed. Furthermore, the incidence of adverse reactions was calculated, and maternal satisfaction with delivery was investigated.

After analgesia, the the Ramsay and labor duration were higher in the high-dose group than those in the low- and medium-dose groups, and the VAS scores was lowerin the high-dose group than those in the low- and medium-dose groups(P < 0.05), while no difference was identified among the three groups in terms of the cesarean section conversion rate and the neonatal Apgar score (P > 0.05). The high-dose group had the greatest fluctuations in MAP and HR levels before and after analgesia than the other two groups, with a higher incidence of adverse reactions (P < 0.05). Finally, the survey of delivery satisfaction showed no significant difference in delivery satisfaction among the three groups (P > 0.05).

DEX has excellent performance in ELA, which can effectively relieve the pain of puerperae and shorten the labor process. Among them, low-dose DEX has higher safety and is recommended as the first choice. Trial Registrations. This trial is registered with ML2021073.

An important role in the course of natural childbirth is played by midwives, who should effectively work on relieving pain. This study aims to present the opinions of midwives on non-pharmacological methods of relieving labor pain; the frequency of their use and reasons for their abandonment; and the relationship between the use of non-pharmacological methods of relieving labor pain and perceived job satisfaction, burnout, and self-efficacy of the midwife.

The study was conducted online, with the participation of 135 Polish midwives working in the delivery room. The author's survey questionnaire, the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the LBQ Burnout Questionnaire, and the Scale of Job Satisfaction were used.

Among the surveyed midwives, 77% use vertical positions in work with a patient giving birth. Almost all respondents consider vertical positions as an example of a non-pharmacological method of relieving labor pain; those with master's degree felt more prepared for their use (p = 0.02). The most common reason for abandoning their use was disagreement on the part of co-workers (p = 0.005). An association was observed between the use of vertical positions and the level of burnout (p = 0.001) and a significant correlation between preparation for their use and self-efficacy assessment, burnout, and job satisfaction.

Our research shows that it would be important to conduct additional training on the use of non-pharmacological methods to relieve labor pain and to present their benefits. In contrast to other research results, our results showed that midwives feel well prepared to use these methods; however, similar to other research, we found that they often feel disagreement from colleagues and a lack of support from their leaders. The use of vertical positions is related to burnout.

Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent in people with cancer. Medical therapies are usually prescribed to alleviate anxiety and depression, but they are associated with a variety of adverse effects. Recently, aromatherapy showed potential as a complementary medicine to improve psychological health and wellbeing. However, its effectiveness on relieving anxiety and depression has not been established.

This study explored the beneficial effects of aromatherapy on psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression in people with cancer.

We searched international databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, Ebscohost, ProQuest and Scopus from inception to 31 May 2021. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. The systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Quantitative analysis was performed on the studies that met our inclusion criteria, and Meta-analysis was performed on the studies with available data by RevMan software.

The quality of the literatures were assessed carefully by two researchers, a total of 17 studies were included in the systematic review and 10 articles were conducted in meta-analysis. The aromatherapy was effective in relieving anxiety (SMD = -0.49, p < 0.05) in people with cancer. Subgroup analysis suggested that most effective methods were aromatic massage (SMD = -0.70, p < 0.005), aromatherapy with lavender essential oils (SMD = -1.12, p < 0.01), short-time interventions (duration < 4weeks) (SMD = -0.87, p < 0.05) and studies in Asia (SMD = -0.83, p < 0.05). Regarding depression and psychological wellbeing, there were no difference between aromatherapy and control groups.

In cancer patients, the aromatherapy was effective for relieving anxiety. However, there was no beneficial effect on depression and psychological wellbeing.

PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42021272465.

To investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on reducing labor anxiety.

In this randomized clinical trial, 166 nulliparous pregnant women admitted to the Labor Ward of Izadi Hospital in Qom, Iran were included and assigned to two groups by randomized block design. In the intervention group (83 cases), auriculotherapy in "Shenmen, Thalamic, Zero, Brain, and Brain stem" was performed in dilatations of 4, 6 and 8 cm, between the contractions for 30 s in both ears at interval 1 h. While the control group received routine care. The Spielberger Inventory were completed pre- and post-interventions.

The auriculotherapy was effective to reduce anxiety state in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.001). The score of state anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 7.0, 8.0 and 11.0 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. The score of trait anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 3.8, 4.0 and 8.3 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. There was no significant difference of delivery mode and newborns' weight and Apgar score between groups (P>0.05). No adverse postpartum outcome such as hemorrhage has been observed in both groups.

Since most women are anxious during labor, it seems that auriculotherapy can be an easy and safe method to reduce labor anxiety. (Trial registration No. irct20121230011944n4).