Marina Mourid

Conference 2024 Poster

Poster Title

The effectiveness and safety of aromatherapy in improving quality of life in patients with diabetes: a systematic review

Authors and Affiliations

Marina Ramzy Mourid1, Mohammed Ayyad2, Ahmed Mohamed Abozaid3, Lina Hemmeda4, Shrouk F Mohamed1

affiliations:
1 Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
2Faculty of Medicine, Al Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
3Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
4 Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

Abstract

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent chronic condition with significant consequences on the patient’s quality of life. Aromatherapy has recently gained popularity and emerged as a promising intervention for diabetes management. This systematic review aims to evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of aromatherapy in improving the quality of life of diabetic patients.

Methods

We searched electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, WOS, Google Scholar, and Cochrane CENTRAL for relevant studies. Eligible studies were selected, and their data were extracted from a standard data extraction sheet.

Results

Fifteen studies (n = 4 quasi-experimental studies and n = 11 RCTs) were included in this systematic review. Among these studies, two explored the impact of aromatherapy on blood glucose levels, three investigated its effects on anxiety, two on fatigue, three on enhancing sleep quality, five on mitigating pain associated with various interventions, and three studies focused on assessing the impact on quality of life (QOL). The overall findings from these studies indicate that aromatherapy demonstrates mild and short-term anxiolytic effects, as well as potential benefits in stabilizing blood sugar levels and enhancing the sleep quality of individuals with diabetes. Additionally, it appears to demonstrate a modest analgesic.

Conclusions

Although aromatherapy shows potential to improve the quality of life in diabetic patients, further high-quality research is warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of aromatherapy interventions. Physicians and individuals with diabetes may consider incorporating aromatherapy as a complementary approach while being aware of the current research limitations and the need for ongoing investigation in this area.