LAUSR

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if aromatherapy hand massage (HM) could improve test anxiety and self-efficacy in nursing students. Participants were randomized to receive aromatherapy hand massage (AHM), unscented HM, or no intervention (C) 60 minutes before an examination. No significant differences were found, but analysis of the percentage change from the means demonstrated the largest decrease in test anxiety in the AHM group (AHM = −12.4%, HM = −8.63%, C = −1.76%). Self-efficacy trends followed a similar pattern (AHM = 5.93%, HM = −3.03%, C = 0.52%). The trends in the percentage change from the means indicate that a larger sample may show improvements in test anxiety and self-efficacy with the use of AHM, which could improve nursing students’ academic performance and decrease attrition rates.