Methods: A convenience sample of baccalaureate nursing students (n=57) enrolled in the nursing course, attended class during data collection, and completed all components of the study were utilized. Once consented, the participants completed the demographics and PSS-10. The physiological factors/biophysical markers (HR and RR) and psychological factor (PSL) were collected and documented at four different timed intervals around aromatherapy diffusion (pre-intervention were Time 1, 2, and 3; post-intervention was Time 4). The aromatherapy intervention was diffused between Time 3 and Time 4.
Results: The PSS mean score (M = 2.008) revealed the students were "sometimes" stressed over the last month correlating to the PSL score (M = 4.7) as “moderately” stressed. No statistical significance was found between heart rates, respiratory rates and perceived stress levels, before peppermint oil was diffused compared to the respective means after the oil was diffused using t-test. However, a mean HR and RR was calculated pre-intervention (M= 85.7; M = 17.1, respectively) with post-intervention calculations (M= 70.4; M = 14.4, respectively) showing a marked decrease clinically. The pre-intervention PSL was (M = 4.7) "moderately" stressed with the post-intervention calculation (M = 3.3) "mildly" stressed.
Conclusion: The outcome of this pilot study provided preliminary data for the development of a stress management intervention for nursing students. Clinically significant decrease was measured in heart rates, respiratory rates and stress level after diffusing aromatherapy in nursing students. Further study using larger samples is needed, and could yield significant generalizable results.