Effect of aromatherapy massage on fatigue and perceived stress of multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, chronic and complex demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, which destroys myelin and damages axons at different levels. Objective: to measure the effect of aromatherapy massage on fatigue and perceived stress of multiple sclerosis patients Methods: quasi-experimental research design with control and study group, The study was conducted at one of the educational hospitals in Cairo. The study was conducted on 35 MS patients as a study group and 35 as a control group. Results: It revealed that almost half of the control group (48.60%) had severe fatigue and 11.40% of them had mild fatigue but 54.80% of the study group had moderate fatigue as well 17.10% of them had sever fatigue post-intervention. Conclusion: This study highlights that aromatherapy massage decreases stress and fatigue levels among multi sclerosis patients was a highly significant improvement in patients’ fatigue and stress levels among the study group compared with the control group. Recommendation: Further trials are justified to enhance the understanding benefits of aromatherapy massage for MS patients. Educational programs about aromatherapy massage for MS caregivers to decrease their burden and improve the quality of life for MS patients.