Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of inhaler aromatherapy accompanied with music on vital signs and oxygen saturation in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy.

Method: The study was conducted with the randomized controlled and experimental design. All the necessary permissions were obtained before starting the study. The intervention groups consisted of three groups; the music (group 1: 30), the aromatherapy (group 2: 30), and the aromatherapy + music group (group 3: 30). Before the procedure, the music group was made to listen instrumental classical Turkish music in rast tune for ten minutes before the procedure through earphones and for five minutes during the procedure through the speaker due to the position given to the patient. In the aromatherapy group; a mixture was prepared by using lavender, chamomile, and sour orange oil in the ratios of 6:2:0.5 and three drops from this mixture were dropped on the sponge and applied by placing on the shoulder of the patient through inhalation (for five minutes) before the procedure and during the procedure. In group 3, on the other hand, the patients were both made to listen to the music and applied with aromatherapy before and during the procedure.

Outcomes: In all the groups, it was found that the pulse rate increased during the procedure compared to the period before the procedure; however, minimum increase was observed in music group and aromatherapy+music group, whereas maximum increase was observed in the control group (p<0.05). Similarly, it was found that the oxygen saturation decreased only in the control group during the procedure compared to the period before the procedure, and the systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly increased in the control group compared to the period before the procedure, and minimum increase was observed in the aromatherapy+music group.

Conclusion and Suggestions: It was observed that music and the inhaler aromatherapy accompanied with music affected pulse and blood pressure positively during the endoscopy, and prevented the decrease in oxygen saturation. Therefore, it could be recommended to apply especially the inhaler aromatherapy accompanied with music in endoscopy procedure since it is easy to apply and cost effective.

Keywords: Endoscopy, music, inhaler aromatherapy, vital sign, nursing.

Correspondence: Özlem Ovayolu, PhD, RN, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey (oucan@gantep.edu.tr).