Recruiting

Aromatherapy Inhaler

Sponsor:

Stanford University

Code:

NCT05302583

Conditions

Cancer Distress

Cancer Coping

Hematopoetic Stem Cell Transplant

Aromatherapy

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Aromatherapy Stick

Standard of Care

Study Details

Brief summary:

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an inhaled aromatherapy stick for patients during the acute inpatient phase after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) . The study will also explore whether aromatherapy use is associated with short-term changes in patient-reported cancer-related distress and coping self-efficacy.

Conditions

Cancer Distress

Cancer Coping

Hematopoetic Stem Cell Transplant

Aromatherapy

Study ID

NCT05302583

Start date

Jun 16, 2025

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Autologous and Allogeneic patients admitted to E1 for planned HSCT
  • Patients with hematologic malignancies requiring HSCT
  • No allergies to lavender or peppermint essential oils
  • Must have received chemotherapy during preparative regimen (single or multi-agent regimen)
  • Adult patient over 18 years of age
  • Able to speak, read, and comprehend English
  • Willing and capable of providing informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients admitted for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CART) infusion
  • Patients receiving a transplant for a germ cell tumor diagnosis
  • Unexpected/unplanned admission (e.g., neutropenic fever, confusion, clinical deterioration)
  • Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) grade 1 through 4
  • History of scleroderma
  • History of atrial fibrillation
  • Known history of G6PD deficiency
  • Allergic to lavender or peppermint essential oils
  • Pediatric patient 18 years of age or less
  • Unable to speak, read, and comprehend English
  • Unwilling or incapable of providing informed consent

Study Design

Enrollment

50 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Usual Care

Participants receive standard supportive care during hospitalization. No aromatherapy stick is provided.

experimental: Aromatherapy + Usual Care

Participants receive standard supportive care plus aromatherapy inhaler education and an aromatherapy stick for self-administered inhalation. Aromatherapy use occurs on the assigned Inhaler Use Day (targeted for Transplant Day +1, +2, or +3). Use is tracked with an inhaler use log. The aromatherapy "dose" is standardized by a maximum total exposure time (up to 2 hours total), while allowing participants to choose how to distribute use.

Interventions

Aromatherapy Stick

Participants receive aromatherapy inhaler education and an aromatherapy stick for self-administered inhalation during the early post-transplant inpatient period. Aromatherapy use occurs on the assigned Inhaler Use Day (targeted for Transplant Day +1, +2, or +3) and is documented using an inhaler use log. Total exposure is limited to a maximum of 2 hours.

Standard of Care

Participants receive standard inpatient supportive care during the acute post-HCT period. No aromatherapy inhaler is provided.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in cancer distress (NCCN Distress Thermometer) [ Time Frame: Baseline: SOC/Inhaler Use Day (Transplant Day +1, +2, or +3); Follow-up: Study Completion Day (Transplant Day +2, +3, or +4) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Anna Oh, PhD, MPH, RN

650-512-6691aoh2@stanford.edu

Locations

Stanford University

Recruiting

Stanford, California, United States, 94305

Contacts

Anna Oh, PhD, MPH, RN

650-512-6691aoh2@stanford.edu

Principal Investigator:

Anna Oh, PhD, MPH, RN

More Information

Sponsor

Stanford University

Last update posted

Aug 12, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Stanford University on 2026-08-12.