背　景: 生產是多數初為人父母者最焦慮的一件事，許多照護者也認為生產時的疼痛與焦慮感受，對初胎待產婦的生產經驗，在情緒及生理層面上具深遠之影響。許多國外文獻提出芳香療法可以緩和個體之身心狀況，並可促進個體生理與心理的健康。
目　的: 探討精油按摩對減輕初胎待產婦焦慮程度之成效。
方　法: 研究為類實驗性設計，採立意取樣，研究對象來自東部某教學醫院之初胎待產婦且符合收案條件者，以隨機分派方式，分為實驗組及控制組各26人。實驗組在待產中接受的是精油按摩，控制組在待產中接受的是基礎油按摩。按摩措施介入的時間為待產活動期。二組按摩時間皆為15分鐘。二組於按摩前進行前測，於按摩後進行立即後測並於按摩後30分鐘、60分鐘重覆測量。研究工具含視覺焦慮類比量表並以Philips M1165A生理監視器監測心跳、血壓及血氧飽和濃度。
結　果: 精油按摩後，能顯著減輕初胎待產婦的焦慮程度，且30分鐘後，焦慮上升的程度亦較控制組趨緩。並能提升血氧飽和濃度，且有效持續時間可達30分鐘，舒張壓顯著下降，其他生理指標則未達統計顯著性差異。
結　論: 本研究結果支持精油按摩對於待產護理之品質提昇，在臨床實務上極具應用價值。

Background: The frst childbirth experience is an exceptionally anxious event for couples. Caregivers have pointed
to increased psychological and physical anxiety during labor pains. Aromatherapy has been cited by many articles in
the literature for its ability to mitigate the psychosomatic symptoms of labor and improve physical and psychological
well-being.
Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of essential oil massage in improving the overall con-
dition of women in the intra-natal period during labor.
Methods: This study applied a quasi-experimental design and purposive sampling method. Fifty-two participants
were recruited from a teaching hospital in eastern Taiwan and assigned randomly to experiment (n=26) and control
groups (n=26). Participants in the experiment group received massage with essential oils and participants in the control
group received massage with carrier oils. The duration of massage in these two groups was 15 minutes in total. Data
were collected four times, as follows: (1) before the massage, (2) immediately after the massage, (3) 30 minutes after
the massage, and (4) 60 minutes after the massage. The visual analogue scale of anxiety and Philips M1165A biophysi-
cal monitor were employed to measure heartbeat, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation in participants.
Results: Findings showed that, 30 minutes after receiving massage with essential oils, the experiment group reported
signifcantly less anxiety and had signifcantly increased oxygen saturation and decreased diastolic pressure levels as
compared with the control group. Applying massage with essential oils can decrease labor anxiety levels during frst-
time labor. Researchers found no signifcant differences in other physiological indicators between the two groups.
Conclusions: The results from this study support massage with essential oils as an alternative approach to relieving
anxiety in women in the intra-natal period during labor.