Aromatherapy for Integrated Cancer Care

August 8, 2023 updated by: Julie Ryan Wolf, University of Rochester

Aromatherapy: An Integrative Option for Symptom Management in Cancer Care

The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of aromatherapy in relief of commonly reported symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Aromatherapy is a noninvasive, minimal risk intervention that could potentially alleviate the severity of treatment-related symptoms. This study will evaluate the ability of four aromatherapy scents (ginger, lavender, orange, jojoba) to reduce the severity of seven chemotherapy-induced symptoms (nausea, vomiting, pain, anxiety/distress, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and lack of appetite). Jojoba oil is a " carrier oil" and will act as a placebo comparator in this study. Jojoba oil is present in small amount (1 drop) in the ginger, lavender, and orange aromatherapy inhalers. As part of the study, the participants will be asked to use an aromatherapy inhaler, which resembles a lipstick container, during three chemotherapy cycles. The participants will use the aromatherapy inhaler for 7 consecutive days. The investigators will ask the participants questions regarding demographics, clinical information, current severity of symptoms, and current methods of symptom management. There is a non-intervention baseline cycle during which subjects rate the severity of the seven different symptoms from 0 to 10 for seven consecutive days during their first chemotherapy study cycle. The next two study cycles are intervention cycles using the randomized aromatherapy. The participants will rate the severity of seven different symptoms from 0 to 10 each day the aromatherapy inhaler during one or two chemotherapy cycles (i.e., 7 consecutive days during each chemotherapy cycle). At the end of the study, the participants will be asked about his/her satisfaction with the aromatherapy used during the study. All of these measurements will provide a better understanding of the effectiveness of aromatherapy for symptom management.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study will evaluate the ability of four aromatherapy scents (ginger, lavender, orange, jojoba) to reduce the severity of seven chemotherapy-induced symptoms (nausea, vomiting, pain, anxiety/distress, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and lack of appetite). Subjects will participate in the study for two or three chemotherapy cycles. The first cycle is a non-intervention baseline cycle during which subjects rate the severity of the seven different symptoms from 0 to 10 for seven consecutive days during their first chemotherapy study cycle. The next one or two cycles are intervention cycle(s) using the assigned randomized aromatherapy. The subjects will rate the severity of seven different symptoms from 0 to 10 each day the aromatherapy inhaler during one or two chemotherapy cycles (i.e., 7 consecutive days during each chemotherapy cycle) and report if they felt the aromatherapy was helping with symptoms compared to the previous cycle. At the end of the study, the participants will be asked about his/her satisfaction with the aromatherapy used during the study. All of these measurements will provide a better understanding of the effectiveness of aromatherapy for symptom management.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
83

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Madeline Forster
  • Phone Number: 585-690-5533

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14263
        • Roswell Park Cancer Institute
      • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
        • University of Rochester Medical Center, Wilmot Canter Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

8 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • a) Male and female subjects, at least 8 years of age, prescribed chemotherapy for cancer. (NOTE: Only non-pregnant females are eligible). University of Rochester will enroll young adults (i.e., 21-39 years) and adults (i.e., 40 years and older). RPCI will enroll adolescents (i.e., 8-20 years) and young adults (i.e., 21-39 years).

    b) Scheduled to receive two or more cycles of chemotherapy. (NOTE: Subjects may have already started chemotherapy, but must have at least three chemotherapy cycles remaining in their current prescribed course.)

    c) Day 1 of each chemotherapy cycle must be separated from Day 1 of the next chemotherapy cycle by at least 10 days.

    d) All cancer types and chemotherapy regimens are eligible. (NOTE: Monoclonal antibody therapies are allowed if administered in combination with chemotherapy).

    e) The chemotherapy regimen must be the same regimen for all study cycles. For example, if a subject with breast cancer was prescribed TAC for Study Cycle 1, the subject must receive TAC for Study Cycles 2 and 3.

    f) Any number of chemotherapy administrations per week during a chemotherapy treatment cycle is allowed.

    g) Subjects must agree to discontinue their current use of aromatherapy for symptom management during the course of the study. They must solely use the jojoba and aromatherapy inhalers provided by the study during the course of the study.

    h) University of Rochester will enroll subjects who are able to read and understand English or Spanish. RPCI will enroll subjects who are able to read and understand English. All subjects must be able to provide informed consent in order to participate in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Subjects < 8 years old are not eligible for participation in this study.
  2. Pregnant females are ineligible for the study because pregnancy is a contraindication for chemotherapy and exposure to essentials oils.
  3. Subjects with more than six weeks between chemotherapy treatment cycles are not eligible.
  4. Concurrent radiation therapy or interferon treatment is not allowed.
  5. Subjects with any known allergy to ginger, lavender, orange, citrus of any kind, jojoba, or essential oils are not eligible.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Ginger aromatherapy
Ginger essential oil (GIN-106) in an aromatherapy inhaler. Subject will take 3 sniffs of the inhaler four times daily (morning, noon, evening, bedtime) for 7 consecutive days during two chemotherapy cycles.
Other: Ginger aromatherapy
Three sniffs of aromatherapy inhaler four times daily for seven days.
Active Comparator: Orange aromatherpy
Orange essential oil (ORG-114) in an aromatherapy inhaler. Subject will take 3 sniffs of the inhaler four times daily (morning, noon, evening, bedtime) for 7 consecutive days during two chemotherapy cycles.
Other: Orange aromatherapy
Three sniffs of aromatherapy inhaler four times daily for seven days.
Active Comparator: Lavender aromatherapy
Lavender essential oil (LAV-110) in an aromatherapy inhaler. Subject will take 3 sniffs of the inhaler four times daily (morning, noon, evening, bedtime) for 7 consecutive days during two chemotherapy cycles.
Other: Lavender aromatherapy
Three sniffs of aromatherapy inhaler four times daily for seven days.
Placebo Comparator: Jojoba aromatherapy
Jojoba oil in an aromatherapy inhaler. Subject will take 3 sniffs of the inhaler four times daily (morning, noon, evening, bedtime) for 7 consecutive days during two chemotherapy cycles. One drop of jojoba oil is on the other three aromatherapy inhalers. Jojoba oil is a "carreir oil" for essential oils which will be used as a comparator and placebo in this study.
Other: Jojoba aromatherapy
Three sniffs of aromatherapy inhaler four times daily for seven days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of participants that complete the intervention.
Time Frame: 3 months
Retention rate will be determined by arm.
3 months
Compliance rate
Time Frame: 3 months
The compliance rate is the percentage of participants that report using the aromatherapy as described in protocol (i.e., at least three sniffs four times daily).
3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean composite severity score
Time Frame: 3 months
A composite symptom severity score will be calculated for each day during each Study Cycle. The mean composite symptom severity score will be the mean of all six composite severity scores for each cycle. We will use ANCOVA analyses to compare the maximum composite symptom severity scores and mean composite symptom severity scores between Study Cycle 3 vs Study Cycle 1 and Study Cycle 2 vs. Study Cycle 1.
3 months
Maximum composite severity score
Time Frame: 3 months
The maximum composite symptom severity score will be the highest severity score across the 6 days for that cycle. The mean composite symptom severity score will be the mean of all six composite severity scores for each cycle. We will use ANCOVA analyses to compare the maximum composite symptom severity scores and mean composite symptom severity scores between Study Cycle 3 vs Study Cycle 1 and Study Cycle 2 vs. Study Cycle 1.
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Rochester

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Julie Ryan Wolf, PhD, MPH, University of Rochester

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 11, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 30, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 22, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 22, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 28, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 14, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 8, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 71162

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

We do not currently have a plant to share individual participant data with other researchers. However, de-identified data will be shared upon request. The data shared will not contain any personal identifiers and will not be able to be linked to study subjects. Study protocol and analysis plans can be shared with other investigators upon request.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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