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Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of Inhalation Aromatherapy for Patients Undergoing Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT)
Sponsor: Singapore General Hospital
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether aromatherapy inhaler sticks can reduce nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy as part of their stem cell transplant treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can aromatherapy inhaler sticks be practically used by patients undergoing stem cell transplant (feasibility)? * Do patients find aromatherapy inhaler sticks acceptable to use during their treatment? * How effective are aromatherapy inhaler sticks at reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting? * What are patients' experiences when using aromatherapy during stem cell transplant? Researchers will compare patients using aromatherapy inhaler sticks with essential oils to patients using inhaler sticks with only jojoba oil (placebo) to see if the essential oils provide additional benefits for reducing nausea and vomiting. Participants will: * Use their assigned inhaler stick every four hours when awake and whenever they feel nauseous * Hold the inhaler stick a finger's length from their nostrils and inhale through one nostril at a time * Use the inhaler stick for no more than 5 minutes per session * Begin using the inhaler on the day of chemotherapy and continue until five days after chemotherapy completion (total of six days) * Receive standard care for nausea and vomiting alongside the inhaler stick * Complete study journals to record their experiences This is a single-blinded study, meaning participants will not know whether they received the aromatherapy or placebo inhaler stick.
Official title: Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of Inhalation Aromatherapy for Reducing Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) in Patients Undergoing Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT): A Pilot Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
21 Years - 99 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2025-05-15
Completion Date
2026-06-24
Last Updated
2025-12-22
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Aromatherapy inhaler
Participants in the intervention group will receive inhalation therapy via an aromatherapy inhaler stick\*, on top of standard care. Participants will be instructed to use the inhaler stick every four hours when they are awake, and whenever they feel nauseous, by holding the inhaler stick a finger's length away from their nostrils and inhaling through one nostril at a time. Each inhaler administration should not last more than 5 minutes. Participants will commence using the inhaler stick on the day of chemotherapy, until five days after the completion of chemotherapy (total of six days). Given the subjective nature of scents, participants in the intervention group will be given a choice between two therapeutic aroma blends - N1 and N2 - before commencing the study. This approach aims to minimize the risk of negative associations with a particular scent and enhance participant adherence to the intervention.
Aromatherapy inhaler (placebo)
Participants in the control group will receive the placebo intervention in addition to standard care. They will be provided with an identical aromatherapy inhaler stick infused solely with jojoba oil. Jojoba oil, primarily used as a carrier oil for dilution, has littleto- no scent and no known therapeutic or anxiolytic effects when inhaled.
Locations (1)
Singapore General Hospital
Singapore, Singapore