The effect of aromatherapy with rose water on the deep sleep status of premature infants admitted to NICU: A randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Sleep, as a biological process, plays an essential role in the brain development and of sensory and motor systems. Studies show different psychological effects of complementary medicine including aromatherapy on patients. We investigated the effect of aromatherapy with rose water on the deep sleep status of premature infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methodology: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 64 infants hospitalized in NICU. Infants were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. Two drops of rose water or two drops of distilled water were poured on gas and placed next to the heads of the babies, respectively. Activity level scale (ALS) was used to assess the sleep status. Results: Out of 66 infants in this study, 30 were female and 36 were male. The average gestational age of the infants was 32.59 +/- 1.99 weeks. The results showed that the duration of deep sleep (type A and B) in the intervention group was significantly longer than the control group during and after the intervention. (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Considering the positive impact of rose water, it can be used to improve the sleep quality in premature babies in hospitals along with the main treatment.