Overview

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of lavender aromatherapy in adult patients undergoing awake otolaryngologic procedures in the outpatient clinic setting. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does lavender aromatherapy help reduce anxiety and/or pain, and improve patient comfort during awake otolaryngologic procedures in the clinic?
• Do patients subjectively find aromatherapy relaxing and/or beneficial during the procedure?

Researchers will compare lavender aromatherapy to placebo (an odorless liquid) to see if lavender aromatherapy helps improve patient comfort during their awake procedure

Participants will:

• Have their scheduled procedure performed with lavender aromatherapy or placebo during the duration of the procedure
• Take a short, less than 1 minute questionnaire both before and after the procedure, describing their levels of anxiety, pain and subjective impressions of the aromatherapy

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults ≥18 years old undergoing awake otolaryngologic procedures in the outpatient clinic
• Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hypersensitivity to fragrances
• Taking systemic NSAIDs or other systemic pain-relieving medications within 48 hours
• Taking anxiolytics, hypnotics, sedating antihistamines, antidepressants on regular basis within 4 weeks
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Participation in another clinical research study within the prior 30 days