Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine to Treat Pain and Agitation in Dementia: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials from Long-Term Care with Potential Use in Critical Care.
Alison R Anderson, Jie Deng, Robert S Anthony and 2 others
PMID 29107312WHAT IT FOUND
The included trials did not show aromatherapy improving pain or agitation in dementia.
Some trials of touch, presence, and interaction reported improvement, so nurses should screen for current complementary therapies and avoid abruptly stopping safe ones.
Key findings
01The review included seven randomized trials with 364 participants aged 60 and above with dementia, all conducted in long-term care settings.
02Aromatherapy did not improve symptoms in any of the included studies.
03Some trials of touch, presence, and interaction reported less agitation, pain, or stress, while aromatherapy alone did not separate from placebo.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only seven randomized trials were included, and the review did not perform a detailed quality assessment of each trial. The authors searched only English-language studies within a limited date range, and some relevant studies in German, Chinese, and Japanese could not be read. The review may have selection bias because the primary author applied the inclusion criteria, and additional databases or a wider date range might have found more trials. Included trials had small samples, subjective staff scoring, compliance issues, and participants also taking medications that could affect results.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that aromatherapy treats pain or agitation in dementia. The included trials did not show improvement from aromatherapy, and apparent benefits may have come from touch, presence, or interaction.