AromatherapyNCT06791785
The Effect Of Aromatherapy Applied To Children Aged 9-12 On Exam Anxiety, Attention Deficit and Academic Success
A study testing Before Application, Before the 1st Written Exam and End of Term in people with Aromatherapy and Test Anxiety, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study was planned to examine the effects of aromatherapy applied to children aged 9-12 on exam anxiety, attention deficit and academic success. The study was conducted as single blind. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 9 to 12 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Aromatherapy, Test Anxiety, Attention Deficits
- What is being tested?
- Before Application, Before the 1st Written Exam and End of Term
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 66 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2025to 1 Sep 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 9 to 12 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Must be between the ages of 9-12
- Must have family permission to participate in the study
- Must have children who can give consent to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- Having a chronic disease related to the respiratory system
- Being allergic to lemon or lavender aroma
- Being a child with special needs
- Being included in an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Developing any problems during the application
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Güzeltepe Ortaokulu
Istanbul, Eyüpsultan, 34000
Ferhat Günerigök, +905423040611, ferhat.gunerigok@ogr.iuc.edu.tr
About this study
This study was planned to examine the effects of aromatherapy applied to children aged 9-12 on exam anxiety, attention deficit and academic success. The study was conducted as single blind.
Hypotheses of the Study H1: Children given lemon aroma with an aromatherapy diffuser have higher Burdon Attention Test mean scores than children in the placebo group; H1.1. Burdon Attention Test mean scores are higher. H1.2. Westside Exam Anxiety mean scores are lower. H2: Children given lavender aroma with an aromatherapy diffuser have higher Burdon Attention Test mean scores than children in the placebo group; H2.1. Burdon Attention Test mean scores are higher. H2.2. Westside Exam Anxiety mean scores are lower. H3: Children given lavender aroma with an aromatherapy diffuser have lower Westside Exam Anxiety mean scores than children given lemon aroma; H3.1. Westside Exam Anxiety mean scores are lower. H3.2. Burdon Attention Test mean scores are higher.
Read the detailed description
Aromatherapy is stated to be based on the therapeutic use of volatile oils obtained from plants and aromatic liquids obtained from the bark and flowers of plants. The liquids used in aromatherapy applications are generally in the form of oil and are very diverse; mint, lemon (citrus limon), laurel, lavender (lavandula angustifolia), eucalyptus, Rumi chamomile, rosemary, tea tree, frankincense, immortelle, fennel, camphor, cypress, pine, tangerine, ginger, grapefruit, etc.
When the application methods are examined, it is stated that they are in the form of gel, body bath, hot towel, facial steam, inhalation (sniffing, dropping on a handkerchief, directly smelling the bottle), steam inhalation.
When the effects of aromatherapy oils are examined in the literature; It is stated that it has many effects such as anxiety and stress reliever, antioxidant, beneficial for menstrual pain, sedative, immune supporter, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antitussive (cough suppressant), decongestant, febrifuge (fever reducer), mucolytic (expectorant), mourning and sadness reliever, detoxifier, vasoconstrictor, analgesic, antiemetic, carminative (inhibitor and elimination of intestinal gases, facilitating digestion). When the effects of lemon oil (citrus limon oil) and lavender (lavandula angustifolia) oil to be used in this research are examined; lavender (lavandula angustifolia): calming, anxiety reliever, wound repairer, healing properties in burns, cell regenerator, itching reducer and ideal effects for children; lemon oil has stress-relieving properties, increases energy, supports immunity and has antimicrobial effects. When looking at the mechanism of action of aromatherapy on humans, it is stated that it triggers the release of substances such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphin and noradrenaline in the cerebellum and causes changes in the person's mental and physical state. When the use of aromatherapy oils throughout history is examined, it is seen that it was first used in the ancient Egyptian civilization in the making of mummies and in the ancient Chinese civilization as an expression of gratitude to God. It is stated that the use of aromatherapy for therapeutic and beauty purposes first emerged in ancient Greek civilizations. It is stated that during the Roman Empire, aromatherapy was used with massage techniques after baths. When looking at its first use in nursing, it is stated that it started with Florence Nightingale and that she tried to relax patients who were suffering during the war by applying lavender oil to their foreheads. Aromatherapy, which also has a long history in nursing care, is stated to be one of the methods that nurses can use to improve patient care and strengthen nursing. It is stated that nursing is a dynamic profession and that when the information in the literature changes, this change is quickly adapted to and that it is important for them to use this change and improve themselves in the areas they work in (school health, community health, child health, etc.). Aromatherapy applications are one of these variables used in different ages and different educational areas in the literature.
This study is planned to be conducted due to the limited number of studies on inhalation aromatherapy as an intervention in the context of neurocognitive anxiety, stress, memory and attention, intelligence, academic performance, etc. in the context of school health within the scope of a holistic approach in the child population and the need for nursing studies in this area. The preadolescent period selected in this study is stated to be the period between the ages of 9-12, known as the period when many physical and psychological changes occur. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of aromatherapy on exam anxiety, attention deficit and academic success of 9-12 year old children in the school age group. It is thought that the results will contribute to the literature.
- Conditions
- Aromatherapy, Test Anxiety, Attention Deficits, Academic Achievement, Child
- Being tested
- Before Application, Before the 1st Written Exam, End of Term
- Keywords
- Child, Test Anxiety, Attention Deficit, Academic Achievement, Aromatherapy
- Medical subject headings
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Before ApplicationOther
All groups will be asked to fill out forms before the application (Westside test anxiety scale, burdon attention test, descriptive information form)
Before the 1st Written ExamOther
Fill out forms before the 1st written exam (Westside test anxiety scale, burdon attention test, descriptive information form)
End of TermOther
Fill out forms at the end of the term (Westside test anxiety scale, burdon attention test, descriptive information form)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon | Experimental | For the lemon group, 550 ml of pure water will be poured into the diffusers to be placed in the classroom, and 3 drops of lemon aroma oil will be dropped into the pure water from the aromatherapy oil bottle. Receives: Other: Before Application; Other: Before the 1st Written Exam; Other: End of Term |
| Lavender | Experimental | For the lavender group, 550 ml of pure water will be poured into the diffusers to be placed in the classroom, and 3 drops of lavender aroma oil will be dropped into the pure water from the aromatherapy oil bottle. Receives: Other: Before Application; Other: Before the 1st Written Exam; Other: End of Term |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | For the placebo group, the impression of oil will be given by dropping 3 drops of pure water from an oil bottle with a similar structure but containing pure water. Receives: Other: Before Application; Other: Before the 1st Written Exam; Other: End of Term |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Power Analysis and Time
Input Parameters:
- Effect size (f): 0.5 (A medium-high effect size)
- α error prob: 0.05 (Type I error rate, 5%)
- Power (1-β err prob): 0.95 (Power, 95%)
- Number of groups: 3 (Number of groups)
Output Parameters:
- Noncentrality parameter λ: 16.5
- Critical F: 3.14281 (Critical F value for ANOVA)
- Numerator df (degrees of freedom): 2 (Groups - 1)
- Denominator df: 63 (Sample size - number of groups)
- Total sample size: 66 (Calculated total sample size)
- Actual power: 0.95347 (Quite close to the expected power)
Accuracy of Calculations:
- It is seen that an analysis suitable for the input values was performed.
- The total sample size (66) is reasonable given the given α, power, and effect size.
If you plan to run an ANOVA test with these parameters, the results will be valid. A total sample size of 66 is sufficient for 3 groups.
TİME: It will take approximately 4-4.5 months until the spring semester education is completed.
Measured: It will take approximately 4-4.5 months until the spring semester education is completed.
Data Analysis and G*Power Analysis
The survey and scale data to be obtained will be analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for Windows 22.0 program. Mean, standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum values will be used in the descriptive statistics of the data. Kurtosis and skewness values of the distributions will be examined in order to determine whether the distributions show a normal distribution in determining the statistical techniques to be used in the analysis of the data. The relationship between the three variables will be examined with the One Way Anova Test. Chi-Square analysis will be applied while examining the relationships between the groups of nominal variables. In order to determine whether the difference between the test score averages before the application, after the 1st written exam and at the end of the term is significant between the groups, variance analysis will be applied in repeated measurements (one-way for group and time, two-way for group*time).
Measured: It will take approximately 4-4.5 months until the spring semester education is completed.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jan 2025
- Study start1 Feb 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Sep 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AromatherapyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Istanbul University - CerrahpasaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ferhat Gunerigok, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06791785
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- E-59090411-44-98875002
- Status last verified
- Jan 2025
- First submitted
- 31 Dec 2024
- Last updated
- 24 Jan 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Jan 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect Of Aromatherapy Applied To Children Aged 9-12 On Exam Anxiety, Attention Deficit and Academic Success
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06791785
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- E-59090411-44-98875002
- Conditions
- Aromatherapy, Test Anxiety, Attention Deficits, Academic Achievement, Child
- Keywords
- Child, Test Anxiety, Attention Deficit, Academic Achievement, Aromatherapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - CerrahpasaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study was planned to examine the effects of aromatherapy applied to children aged 9-12 on exam anxiety, attention deficit and academic success. The study was conducted as single blind.
Hypotheses of the Study H1: Children given lemon aroma with an aromatherapy diffuser have higher Burdon Attention Test mean scores than children in the placebo group; H1.1. Burdon Attention Test mean scores are higher. H1.2. Westside Exam Anxiety mean scores are lower. H2: Children given lavender aroma with an aromatherapy diffuser have higher Burdon Attention Test mean scores than children in the placebo group; H2.1. Burdon Attention Test mean scores are higher. H2.2. Westside Exam Anxiety mean scores are lower. H3: Children given lavender aroma with an aromatherapy diffuser have lower Westside Exam Anxiety mean scores than children given lemon aroma; H3.1. Westside Exam Anxiety mean scores are lower. H3.2. Burdon Attention Test mean scores are higher.
Detailed description
Aromatherapy is stated to be based on the therapeutic use of volatile oils obtained from plants and aromatic liquids obtained from the bark and flowers of plants. The liquids used in aromatherapy applications are generally in the form of oil and are very diverse; mint, lemon (citrus limon), laurel, lavender (lavandula angustifolia), eucalyptus, Rumi chamomile, rosemary, tea tree, frankincense, immortelle, fennel, camphor, cypress, pine, tangerine, ginger, grapefruit, etc.
When the application methods are examined, it is stated that they are in the form of gel, body bath, hot towel, facial steam, inhalation (sniffing, dropping on a handkerchief, directly smelling the bottle), steam inhalation.
When the effects of aromatherapy oils are examined in the literature; It is stated that it has many effects such as anxiety and stress reliever, antioxidant, beneficial for menstrual pain, sedative, immune supporter, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antitussive (cough suppressant), decongestant, febrifuge (fever reducer), mucolytic (expectorant), mourning and sadness reliever, detoxifier, vasoconstrictor, analgesic, antiemetic, carminative (inhibitor and elimination of intestinal gases, facilitating digestion). When the effects of lemon oil (citrus limon oil) and lavender (lavandula angustifolia) oil to be used in this research are examined; lavender (lavandula angustifolia): calming, anxiety reliever, wound repairer, healing properties in burns, cell regenerator, itching reducer and ideal effects for children; lemon oil has stress-relieving properties, increases energy, supports immunity and has antimicrobial effects. When looking at the mechanism of action of aromatherapy on humans, it is stated that it triggers the release of substances such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphin and noradrenaline in the cerebellum and causes changes in the person's mental and physical state. When the use of aromatherapy oils throughout history is examined, it is seen that it was first used in the ancient Egyptian civilization in the making of mummies and in the ancient Chinese civilization as an expression of gratitude to God. It is stated that the use of aromatherapy for therapeutic and beauty purposes first emerged in ancient Greek civilizations. It is stated that during the Roman Empire, aromatherapy was used with massage techniques after baths. When looking at its first use in nursing, it is stated that it started with Florence Nightingale and that she tried to relax patients who were suffering during the war by applying lavender oil to their foreheads. Aromatherapy, which also has a long history in nursing care, is stated to be one of the methods that nurses can use to improve patient care and strengthen nursing. It is stated that nursing is a dynamic profession and that when the information in the literature changes, this change is quickly adapted to and that it is important for them to use this change and improve themselves in the areas they work in (school health, community health, child health, etc.). Aromatherapy applications are one of these variables used in different ages and different educational areas in the literature.
This study is planned to be conducted due to the limited number of studies on inhalation aromatherapy as an intervention in the context of neurocognitive anxiety, stress, memory and attention, intelligence, academic performance, etc. in the context of school health within the scope of a holistic approach in the child population and the need for nursing studies in this area. The preadolescent period selected in this study is stated to be the period between the ages of 9-12, known as the period when many physical and psychological changes occur. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of aromatherapy on exam anxiety, attention deficit and academic success of 9-12 year old children in the school age group. It is thought that the results will contribute to the literature.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon | Experimental | Other: Before Application, Other: Before the 1st Written Exam, Other: End of TermFor the lemon group, 550 ml of pure water will be poured into the diffusers to be placed in the classroom, and 3 drops of lemon aroma oil will be dropped into the pure water from the aromatherapy oil bottle. |
| Lavender | Experimental | Other: Before Application, Other: Before the 1st Written Exam, Other: End of TermFor the lavender group, 550 ml of pure water will be poured into the diffusers to be placed in the classroom, and 3 drops of lavender aroma oil will be dropped into the pure water from the aromatherapy oil bottle. |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Other: Before Application, Other: Before the 1st Written Exam, Other: End of TermFor the placebo group, the impression of oil will be given by dropping 3 drops of pure water from an oil bottle with a similar structure but containing pure water. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 9 to 12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Must be between the ages of 9-12
- Must have family permission to participate in the study
- Must have children who can give consent to participate in the study
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Having a chronic disease related to the respiratory system
- Being allergic to lemon or lavender aroma
- Being a child with special needs
- Being included in an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Developing any problems during the application
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Before ApplicationAll groups will be asked to fill out forms before the application (Westside test anxiety scale, burdon attention test, descriptive information form) | Other | Lavender, Lemon, Placebo |
| Before the 1st Written ExamFill out forms before the 1st written exam (Westside test anxiety scale, burdon attention test, descriptive information form) | Other | Lavender, Lemon, Placebo |
| End of TermFill out forms at the end of the term (Westside test anxiety scale, burdon attention test, descriptive information form) | Other | Lavender, Lemon, Placebo |
Primary outcome
Power Analysis and Time
Time frame: It will take approximately 4-4.5 months until the spring semester education is completed.
Input Parameters: * Effect size (f): 0.5 (A medium-high effect size) * α error prob: 0.05 (Type I error rate, 5%) * Power (1-β err prob): 0.95 (Power, 95%) * Number of groups: 3 (Number of groups) Output Parameters: * Noncentrality parameter λ: 16.5 * Critical F: 3.14281 (Critical F value for ANOVA) * Numerator df (degrees of freedom): 2 (Groups - 1) * Denominator df: 63 (Sample size - number of groups) * Total sample size: 66 (Calculated total sample size) * Actual power: 0.95347 (Quite close to the expected power) Accuracy of Calculations: * It is seen that an analysis suitable for the input values was performed. * The total sample size (66) is reasonable given the given α, power, and effect size. If you plan to run an ANOVA test with these parameters, the results will be valid. A total sample size of 66 is sufficient for 3 groups. TİME: It will take approximately 4-4.5 months until the spring semester education is completed.
Data Analysis and G*Power Analysis
Time frame: It will take approximately 4-4.5 months until the spring semester education is completed.
The survey and scale data to be obtained will be analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for Windows 22.0 program. Mean, standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum values will be used in the descriptive statistics of the data. Kurtosis and skewness values of the distributions will be examined in order to determine whether the distributions show a normal distribution in determining the statistical techniques to be used in the analysis of the data. The relationship between the three variables will be examined with the One Way Anova Test. Chi-Square analysis will be applied while examining the relationships between the groups of nominal variables. In order to determine whether the difference between the test score averages before the application, after the 1st written exam and at the end of the term is significant between the groups, variance analysis will be applied in repeated measurements (one-way for group and time, two-way for group*time).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Jan 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Before Application, Before the 1st Written Exam and End of Term in people with Aromatherapy and Test Anxiety, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jan 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Power Analysis and Time (time frame: It will take approximately 4-4.5 months until the spring semester education is completed.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Jan 2025.