Can aromatherapy reduce restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients? a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose: This study conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on the effectivenessof aromatherapy in reducing restless legs syndrome (RLS) in hemodialysis patients. Methods: Usingthe population, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design framework, a search was conductedof eight electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase-Ovid, CINAHL, Web of science, Scopus,PQDT, and RISS. The population was hemodialysis patients, and the intervention included aromathera py aiming at RLS, compared to control groups receiving placebo or usual care. The outcome measuredwas RLS, and the study design was randomized controlled trials. Results: The analysis included sevenarticles presenting results from 10 studies, and the pooled overall effect of aromatherapy on RLS inhemodialysis patients was shown by a Hedge’s g of −1.84 (95% confidence interval: −2.45 to −1.23). Meta-regression analysis revealed greater effectiveness in studies that received funding. Age over 60,lavender oil use, intervention duration of less than 4 weeks, sessions longer than 30 minutes, a routinecare control group, and quality assessment score of 10 or less were associated with RLS reduction. Conclusion: The study concluded that aromatherapy is effective for managing RLS in hemodialysis pa tients.