INDIAN JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, cilt.14, sa.1, ss.52-56, 2015 (SCI-Expanded)
Test anxiety is an important factor that negatively affects nursing students' success during the education process. The objective of this study was to identify the effectiveness of aromatherapy in decreasing test anxiety levels in nursing students. This experimental trial study's sample consisted of 2nd year nursing students (n=154) at Faculty of Health Sciences, Ataturk University, in the 2013-2014 academic years. Personal information form and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI 1) were used to collect relevant data. Aromatherapy was applied by the inhalation method to the students in the experimental group during exam. As a result of the study, it was found that State-Trait Anxiety Inventory mean scores of the students in the experimental group was lower than the mean scores of the students in the control group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). It was determined that the lavender essential oil has effects on test anxiety. The results of this study can be integrated into education strategies for students who suffer from test-taking anxiety. The results of this study may guide the students and nursing educators to try lavender and other essential oils to reduce test-taking anxiety.