The Anxiolytic Effect of Aromatherapy on Patients Awaiting Ambulatory Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Table 2

Summary of the mean changes in anxiety scores and vital sign parameters with stratification by surgical experience.

Mean change from baseline	Bergamot essential oil	Control	𝑃 value
Without experience of surgery (𝑛=34)
STAI change	−3.0 (−10.0, −2.0)^†	−2.0 (−3.0, 1.0)	0.021*
Heart rate change	−6.0 (−9.0, 1.0)^†	−5.0 (−10.0, 2.0)	0.877
SBP change	−11.0 (−16.0, −8.0)^†	−8.0 (−11.0, 4.0)	0.051
DBP change	−5.0 (−9.0, 0.0)^†	1.0 (−8.0, 6.0)	0.140
With experience of surgery (𝑛=75)
STAI change	−4.0 (−8.0, −1.0)^†	−1.0 (−4.0, 1.0)^†	0.005*
Heart rate change	−3.5 (−5.0, 0.0)^†	−5.0 (−10.0, −1.0)^†	0.084
SBP change	−11.0 (−17.0, −2.0)^†	−7.0 (−12.0, −1.0)^†	0.280
DBP change	−1.0 (−6.0, 2.0)	−4.0 (−6.0, 5.0)	0.649

Data are presented as median and IQR. ^∗𝑃<0.05 indicates a significant difference between groups; ^†indicates a significant change from baseline.