Over the past few years, there has been a big discussion in healthcare regarding the opioid crisis that is sweeping the nation. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose and six out of ten drug overdose deaths involve an opioid. These statistics are staggering and heartbreaking to say the least.
Unfortunately, surgery can be the first time a person/patient is exposed to the use of an opioid to help with recovery. However, according to the JAMA Network article, "Rate and Risk Factors Associated With Prolonged Opioid Use After Surgery," 7% of patients continued to fill their opioid prescriptions more than 3 months after surgery. In 2021, The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimated about 5 million people aged 12 or over misuse prescription opioids.
What health providers are doing to help mitigate the opioid crisis
To help mitigate the potential for opioid abuse, The Joint Commission revised their pain management standards, requiring hospitals to offer patients at least one non-pharmacological pain treatment modality. The CDC also has recommendations centered around offering a non-pharmacologic treatment for pain management.
One suggestion to help hospitals abide by the regulations of offering a non-pharmacological pain treatment modality is clinical aromatherapy. In fact, the American Society of Anesthesiologists lists aromatherapy as a safe and effective alternative for managing pain post-surgery. Although clinical aromatherapy is a known way to help manage pain, objective evidence of its effectiveness has been lacking.
A study to determine the effectiveness of clinical aromatherapy for pain post-surgery
Jacques E. Chelly, MD, PhD, MBA and a team comprised of members of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center conducted a study to help support the use of clinical aromatherapy.
Specifically, their study was designed to assess the effectiveness of aromatherapy in controlling pain and opioid use in anxious patients following a primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty. After obtaining signed consent from the sixty patients who were included in the study, each patient was then asked to complete an anxiety survey.
Based on their anxiety score, patients were randomized to either receive a Lavender-Peppermint Elequil® Aromatab or a placebo Elequil Aromatab. Patients were given the Aromatab prior to surgery and continued after surgery for two days.
On certain days throughout their recovery, the patients were given surveys regarding their demographics, pain, opioid consumption, post operative nausea and vomiting, and psychosocial status. A satisfaction questionnaire was given on the day of discharge and again 30 days after their surgery.
Encouraging results in decreasing perception of pain and opioid use
Once these surveys were calculated, the team discovered a 26% decrease in pain, a 33% decrease in opioid consumption, a 48% decrease in acetaminophen consumption, and a 78% decrease in PONV in the group that was given the Lavender-Peppermint Elequil Aromatab.
Their conclusion was that their study provides evidence of the usefulness of inhalation of lavender and peppermint aromas in patients undergoing primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty when started prior to surgery and continued for two days postoperative via the use of a self-adhesive Elequil Aromatab.
The study went on to say how Elequil Aromatab aromatherapy is an innovative and practical mode of administration which requires no inhaler while allowing a continuous delivery of the aroma that is well-accepted by patients.
Because Elequil Aromatabs aromatherapy contains a consistent amount of essential oils, they are not only ideal for clinical studies, but for all healthcare settings. The self-adhesive, hands-free Aromatab is personal to each patient and can be disposed of after use or transferred to the patient’s clothing to continue the benefits of aromatherapy at home.
Learn more about Elequil Aromatabs as an adjunct therapy for pain management
Elequil Aromatabs aromatherapy helps patients relax to help with pain perception. To learn more about other studies using Elequil Aromatabs aromatherapy or how it can work in your facility, call 1.800.233.5539 or email info@beekley.com to request a sample packet of Elequil Aromatabs aromatherapy.
Megan Sargalski
Marketing Communications Specialist
