Effects of Peppermint Aromatherapy on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting.

PURPOSE: Standardized order sets for postoperative patients often include antiemetic medications only for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of PONV in patients receiving peppermint aromatherapy and usual care to patients receiving only usual care.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental research design used to evaluate the ability of peppermint aromatherapy to decrease PONV and antiemetic use postoperatively.

METHODS

Intervention group received peppermint aromatherapy with a control group receiving standard of care. The nausea scale with descriptors was used to evaluate PONV.

FINDINGS: Descriptive statistics and a χ2 test revealed no statistical significance (P = .28). However, peppermint aromatherapy was preferred by many patients as indicated by patients' statements and decreased ratings and complaints of nausea.

CONCLUSIONS

The peppermint aromatherapy was favorably received by many of the postoperative patients and may be an effective adjunct treatment with antiemetics for PONV.