Effects of aromatherapy massage on the severity of restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the most common problems among hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study determined the effect of aromatherapy massage with lavender oil on the severity of RLS in HD patients. Methods This randomized clinical trial was performed on 42 HD patient that were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Patients in the intervention group underwent 4 weeks of effleurage massage with lavender oil. The information was collected using RLS Questionnaire. Data analysis were done performed using SPSS16. Results Based on the findings, the mean score of the severity of RLS showed a significant difference between the groups after the intervention ( p = 0.0001). In addition, there was a significant difference between the scores of RLS in the intervention group before and after intervention ( p = 0.0001). Conclusion The use of lavender oil during massage therapy can serve as a complementary treatment along with other care to alleviate the symptoms of RLS.