Objective:
This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy versus standard care on common physiological and psychological symptoms in low-risk pregnant women.
Introduction:
Women report common symptoms that result from anatomical and physiological changes significant for fetal development and maternal-fetal protection during pregnancy. Aromatherapy is an integrative and complementary practice of ancient origin that works through the administration of essential oils. The practice is used to promote physical and psychological well-being.
Inclusion criteria:
This systematic review will include studies on healthy pregnant women before labor who received aromatherapy as antenatal care for common physiological and psychological symptoms. Randomized clinical trials, quasi-experimental studies, cohort, and case-control studies will be included. This review will exclude studies that focus on women in labor unless data relating to pregnant women can be separated.
Methods:
The searches will be carried out on the following databases: MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, LILACS, BDENF, CUIDEN, and MOSAICO in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, with no time limit. The searches for unpublished studies will be carried out on the following repositories: ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, British Library EThOS, and the Canadian Theses and Dissertation Portal. The JBI approach will be used for study selection, critical evaluation, data extraction, and synthesis.
Systematic review registration number:
PROSPERO CRD42020218730
Correspondence: Victor Hugo Alves Mascarenhas, victormascarenhas@usp.br
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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