아로마요법이 간호대학생의 자율신경계 활성에 미치는 효과

Abstract

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of aromatherapy on the autonomic nerve system activation among nursing students. Methods : This research was a quasi-experimental research using nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design and was conducted from September to November, 2004. The subjects consisted 46 nursing students who were divided into 22 experimental group members and 24 control group members. R-R Variability(RRV) was measured for five minutes to evaluate autonomic nerve system activation. The ratio of low: high frequency(LF/HF) was postulated as an index of autonomic nerve system balance and the Standard deviation of all normal-normal intervals(SDNN) was postulated as an index of autonomic nerve system adaptation. As treatment, blending aromas(lavender, camomile,sweet almond) were given onto philtrum and parotid area in the experimental group but sweet almond was given in the control group. Data were analyzed by SPSS10.0 using mean,standard deviation, t-test. Results : There was not a difference in the autonomic nerve system balance between the experimental group and control group. But there was a statistically significant difference(p=0.003) in the autonomic nerve system adaptation between the experimental group and control group. Conclusions : Based on the above findings, aromatherapy can be used as a nursing intervention which aims at regulating the autonomic nerve system adaptation.