Effect of Aromatherapy on Reducing Exam Anxiety in Pharmacy Students: A Double-blind, Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy as a low-cost, non-invasive intervention for reducing exam anxiety in college students and improving their academic performance. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted among 270 pharmacy students from different academic years, who were divided into three distinct groups. Exam anxiety was assessed using the Sarason questionnaire at baseline and after 15 minutes of aromatherapy. Results: There was no significant difference in the severity of anxiety at baseline (P = 0.07). However, following orange aromatherapy, there was a significant decrease in baseline-exam anxiety score (mean difference 1.32, P < 0.001), while lavender aromatherapy did not show a significant effect (P = 0.27). Aromatherapy had a significant impact on academic performance, specifically in the bio-pharmacy exam. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that aromatherapy may have an effect on exam anxiety. Orange essential oil aromatherapy, without the adverse reactions associated with pharmacological therapies, was found to be an effective strategy for reducing exam anxiety and enhancing academic performance among pharmacy students. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.