Lemon Aromatherapy as a Nursing Intervention in Reducing Nausea and Vomiting in Patient with Nasopharyngeal Cancer during Chemotherapy at Indonesia Hospital

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma is an epithelial malignancy originating from the nasopharynx which is posterior to the nasal cavity. Chemotherapy is one of the therapies that can be given to patients with malignancy. Chemotherapy has some side effects, depending on the chemotherapy agent given. Nausea and vomiting are common side effects in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Purpose of this study to provide an overview of lemon aromatherapy as a nursing intervention in reducing nausea and vomiting in nasopharyngeal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The method used is a case study, done by analyzing nursing care in one patient with a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The results of nursing care carried out for 4 days discovered a decrease in nausea and vomiting as showed by VAS measurements of nausea, vomiting frequency, heart rate, meal portions, and salivation. Analysis of lemon aromatherapy as a nursing intervention in reducing nausea and vomiting in nasopharyngeal cancer patients during chemotherapy treatment found a decrease in nausea and vomiting as evidenced by a decrease in the VAS nausea scale from VAS six on the first day to VAS zero (no nausea) on the fourth day. Therefore, giving lemon aromatherapy helps in reducing nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy.