Effectiveness of Aromatherapy and Animated Distraction in Pain Management Among Children Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review

Pain management in pediatric oncology remains a critical challenge due to children’s limited coping mechanisms and anxiety associated with chemotherapy. Non pharmacological interventions such as aromatherapy and animated distraction have recently emerged as safe, cost effective, and culturally adaptable strategies. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the combined and individual effects of aromatherapy and animated distraction on pain perception, anxiety relief, and physiological stabilization among children undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Following PRISMA ۲۰۲۰ guidelines, five databases—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar—were searched for English language articles published between ۲۰۱۳ and ۲۰۲۴. The main inclusion criteria were randomized and quasi experimental studies involving children aged ۴ ۱۵ years receiving chemotherapy and assessed with validated pediatric pain scales (e.g., Wong Baker FACES or FLACC). Keywords included “Aromatherapy,” “Distraction,” “Animation,” “Chemotherapy Pain,” and “Pediatric Oncology.” Data were synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity in methodologies. Results: Out of ۳۶۸ initially retrieved studies, ۲۱ met the inclusion criteria. Most studies reported a ۲۵–۴۵% reduction in pain scores using lavender or sweet orange essential oil inhalation during chemotherapy sessions. The mechanism was attributed to olfactory limbic modulation reducing sympathetic activation. Animated distraction (e.g., viewing age appropriate cartoons or virtual animation) significantly diminished both behavioral distress and physiological indicators such as heart rate and systolic pressure. Studies combining aromatherapy and animated distraction showed the greatest synergy, with an average improvement of ۵۵% in composite pain anxiety indices compared to control groups. No adverse events were documented. Intervention effectiveness was particularly pronounced among children under eight years old and during the first chemotherapy cycles. Conclusion: Aromatherapy and animated distraction represent safe, evidence based complementary methods for reducing procedural pain and anxiety in pediatric oncology settings. Their integration into routine nursing care can enhance treatment tolerance, emotional comfort, and overall therapeutic compliance. Further RCTs with larger samples and standardized intervention protocols are recommended to define optimal dosing, exposure duration, and sensory integration parameters.

کلیدواژه ها:

: Animated Distraction ، Pediatric Oncology ، Chemotherapy Pain ، Non Pharmacological Interventions ، Nursing Care ، Pediatric Pain Management