科技智慧工具對芳香療法影響睡眠品質之評估

Evaluation of Intelligent Tools to Explore the Effect of Aromatherapy on Sleep Quality

芳香療法為常見之壓力調適方式，研究指出快樂鼠尾草（Clary Sage）精油具有舒緩壓力與調節情緒之潛力，惟其對睡眠品質之影響仍有待釐清。本研究目的為了解快樂鼠尾草精油嗅吸介入對成人睡眠品質之影響。研究對象為20至65歲、作息規律且睡眠日夜時間固定之成人，並通過元培醫事科技大學人體與人類行為研究倫理委員會審核。受試者分為精油介入組與對照組。研究工具包含匹茲堡睡眠品質量表與智慧薄墊，分別評估主觀及客觀睡眠參數。兩組於介入前後皆接受量表評估；精油組於居家睡眠期間，將滴有快樂鼠尾草精油之棉片置於枕頭巾進行嗅吸，並於枕下放置智慧薄墊連續28晚偵測睡眠狀態；對照組則未進行精油嗅吸。研究結果顯示，智慧薄墊所測得之睡眠參數於兩組間皆未達統計顯著差異；然而，精油組於介入後之主觀睡眠品質（1.57±0.65 vs 0.79±0.43，p = 0.001）、睡眠困擾（1.50±0.52 vs 1.14±0.36，p = 0.019）、白天功能（1.57±0.65 vs1.14±0.36，p = 0.008）及睡眠品質總分（7.71±2.64 vs 6.14±1.83，p = 0.021）均較介入前顯著改善，且於組間比較中，主觀睡眠品質與睡眠品質總分亦呈現顯著差異。結論顯示：快樂鼠尾草精油嗅吸可能提升受試者之主觀睡眠感受，但智慧薄墊於本研究居家介入情境下未能呈現相對應之客觀改善，提示芳香介入效果評估宜採主客觀工具併用，並需進一步驗證智慧薄墊之敏感度與適用性。

Aromatherapy is a commonly used approach for stress regulation, and previous studies have suggested that clary sage essential oil (CSEO) has potential effects on stress relief and emotional modulation. However, its impact on sleep quality remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CSEO inhalation on sleep quality in adults. Participants were adults aged 20–65 years with regular daily routines and stable sleep–wake schedules. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Yuanpei University of Medical Technology. Participants were assigned to either an essential oil intervention group or a control group. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and AI smart care system were used to assess subjective and objective sleep parameters, respectively. This AI smart care system is based on non-invasive optical fiber physiological monitoring technology to collect sleep records. Both groups completed the PSQI before and after the intervention period. During home-based sleep, participants in the intervention group inhaled CSEO via a cotton pad placed on the pillowcase, while an AI smart care system was positioned under the pillow to monitor sleep status continuously for 28 nights. The control group did not receive essential oil inhalation. The results indicated that no significant differences were observed in objective sleep parameters measured by the AI smart care system between groups. However, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in subjective sleep quality (1.57±0.65 vs 0.79±0.43, p = 0.001), sleep disturbances (1.50±0.52 vs 1.14±0.36, p = 0.019), daytime dysfunction (1.57±0.65 vs 1.14±0.36, p = 0.008), and global PSQI scores (7.71±2.64 vs 6.14±1.83, p = 0.021) after the intervention. Furthermore, between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in subjective sleep quality and global sleep quality scores. In conclusion, inhalation of CSEO may improve subjective sleep perception in adults. Nevertheless, under the homebased intervention conditions of this study, corresponding improvements in objective sleep parameters were not observed. These findings suggest that evaluations of aromatherapy interventions should incorporate both subjective and objective assessment tools, and further studies are warranted to verify the sensitivity and applicability of an AI smart care system in home sleep research.