Positive Health Online

Abstract

PAPADOUPOULOS and colleagues, South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust UK evaluated an aromatherapy service for older adults with physical health problems and their carers in Birmingham.

Background

Methodology

The authors evaluated, using interview scripts and written descriptions, an aromatherapy service based in a carer support unit at a Birmingham hospital in an attempt to answer the question: 'What types of benefits do clients/carers report from aromatherapy?' Interviews were conducted either at the carer support unit, at a connected day centre or at the client/carer's home. Participants included six clients and four carers who were in contact with the carer support unit and who had received aromatherapy from the aromatherapist in the past year. Main outcome measures were to explore which part of a session they preferred, perceived benefits of aromatherapy and a smell attribution to certain essential oils. The aromatherapist was also asked to write descriptions of her perceived benefits for the clients and carers. Interviews were qualitatively analysed and compared to the written descriptions of the aromatherapist.

Results

All the clients and carers reported that they had benefited from the aromatherapy and felt more relaxed following a session. Qualitative analysis revealed a 70% area of overlap and a 30% 'hidden' area of congruence. The smell analysis revealed individual differences in attribution depending upon past experience and expectation of the oil presented.

Conclusion

The findings of this evaluation suggest that the aromatherapy service was valuable to clients and carers and that their perception of its benefits for them were largely congruent with those of the aromatherapist.

References

Papadopoulos A et al. Evaluation and attributional analysis of an aromatherapy service for older adults with physical health problems and carers using the service. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 7(4): 239-44. Dec 1999.