Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

Background: Dry mouth and thirst are commonly associated with a strong desire to drink fluid. Despite this, thirst is often overlooked in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) experience various causes of distress. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of an intervention bundle on thirst intensity among ICU patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was used with a purposive sample of 100 ICU patients were selected and randomly divided into two groups: the thirst bundle group comprised of 50 ICU patients who received thirst bundle intervention with lip moisturizer, peppermint water mouthwash, and vitamin C sprays. The control group comprised 50 ICU patients who received routine hospital care, including saline cotton balls. Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and oral mucosa scale (OOMS) tools were used to evaluate the levels of thirst, oral mucosa hydration, and dry mouth severity among ICU patients at baseline and after the intervention. Results: After the intervention, patients in the thirst bundle group exhibited lower levels of dry mouth than those in the control group. Furthermore, the mean thirst severity score decreased significantly in the thirst bundle patients (3.52 ± 2.03) compared to the control group (5.74 ± 2.54), p<0.001. Additionally, a significant improvement in dry mouth severity

was observed in the thirst bundle group, with a baseline score of 3.18 ± 0.85 and a post-intervention score of 1.96 ± 0.755 (p<0.001). Conclusion: Implementing a thirst bundle effectively reduced the severity of thirst and dry mouth intensity among ICU patients. Further research is necessary to determine the potential benefits of this intervention for ICU patients

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