靜謐複方精油對改善長照機構失智症長者憂鬱情緒及睡眠品質之成效探討

Effects of Administering Essential Oil Blends on Depressive Mood and Sleep Quality in Elderly Residents With Dementia in Long-Term Care Facilities

背景憂鬱與睡眠品質不良為失智症病人的普遍症狀，而嗅吸式芳香療法是長照機構人力匱乏下可改善此類症狀的非藥物介入措施。
目的探討嗅吸靜謐複方精油對於長照機構失智症長者憂鬱情緒及睡眠品質之成效。
方法採方便取樣，於台灣南部兩家長照機構招募43位住民。介入前進行前測，接續2週每週5日、每日2次實施芳療；介入後第1週與第2週進行後測，第3、4週停止介入，第4週末實施追蹤後測。全程以康乃爾失智者憂鬱量表與匹茲堡睡眠量表評估，採單組重複測量變異數分析。
結果精油介入可改善失智者的整體憂鬱狀況、行為障礙、生理徵兆與情緒相關徵兆等面向，亦對於睡眠整體分數、睡眠困擾及日間活動失能具成效。惟改善效果於介入停止後減弱，顯示持續性有限。
結論「靜謐複方精油」可在短期內改善失智者的憂鬱與睡眠情況，惟持續性有限。建議未來研究延長介入與追蹤期，並探討睡前嗅吸對睡眠品質的影響，以釐清本配方在睡眠面向的最佳應用時機。

Background: Depression and poor sleep quality are common symptoms among people with dementia. Inhalation-based aromatherapy, a non-pharmacological intervention known to help alleviate these symptoms, may be used therapeutically in long-term care facilities, especially those facing staff shortages.
Purpose: This study was designed to explore the effects of a“Pampering”essential oil blend on depression and sleep quality in people with dementia residing in long-term care institutions.
Methods: Forty-three residents were purposively sampled from two long-term care facilities in southern Taiwan. After pre-test data collection, the participants received a twice-daily aromatherapy intervention five days per week for two weeks. Post-test data collections were conducted in the first and second weeks and at the end of the fourth week after the intervention. The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used as assessment tools, and a one-group repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to evaluate the intervention effects.
Results: Improvements in overall depression, behavioral disturbances, physical symptoms, and emotion-related symptoms were found between pre- and post-test measurements. Also, positive effects on overall sleep quality, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction were recorded. However, the improvement effects diminished over time after the end of the intervention, indicating limited sustainability.
Conclusion: While the“Pampering”essential oil blend may be used to achieve short-term improvements in depressive symptoms and sleep quality in individuals with dementia, the effects diminish quickly after ending the intervention. In future related studies, intervention and follow-up periods should be extended and the effects of inhalation before bedtime should be explored to clarify the optimal timing and potential benefits of this essential oil blend on sleep quality.