Dry Mouth, Endotracheal Tube, Thirst
Conditions
Keywords
dry mouth, thirst, endotracheal tube
Brief summary
This is an experimental study aimed at exploring the effectiveness of using 4°C frozen gauze with normal saline for relieving dry mouth and thirst in patients with endotracheal tubes.
Detailed description
Long-term placement of endotracheal tubes often causes discomfort, including lip ulcers, laryngeal pain, and dry oral mucosa, leading to frequent complaints of dry mouth and thirst among conscious patients. However, these symptoms are commonly overlooked in the nursing process, resulting in emotional distress and irritability in patients. Although healthcare providers recognize the issue of dry mouth and thirst in patients with endotracheal tubes, effective management is challenging due to concerns about treatment limitations, aspiration pneumonia, and the risk of coughing or vomiting. This experimental study aims to explore the effectiveness of using 4°C frozen gauze soaked in normal saline to relieve dry mouth and thirst in patients with endotracheal tubes.
Interventions
PROCEDURE4°C frozen normal saline gauze
Soak two 4x4 gauze pads in 15 ml of normal saline, refrigerate at 4°C, and then apply in the oral cavity for 15 minutes before removal.
Sponsors
Changhua Christian Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Endotracheal intubation. * Aged 18 years or older. * Patient or family members are willing to sign the consent form.
Exclusion criteria
* History of head and neck cancer. * Oral mucosal damage, swelling, or bleeding that precludes placement of a moist gauze pad.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Oral moisture checking device | Change from baseline dry mouth at Day 3, and Day 7 | The oral moisture checking device was utilized to assess symptoms of dry mouth in participants. This study utilized an oral moisture checking device produced by Life Co., Ltd. of Japan, which measures the moisture content within the oral cavity using the principle of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The measurement method involves placing a specialized plastic sleeve over the tongue approximately one centimeter from the tip and applying a force of 200 grams. A measurement is obtained after about 2 seconds. A reading below 27.9 indicates dryness, a reading between 28 and 29.5 is considered borderline, and readings of 29.6 and above are normal. Both the sensitivity and specificity of this method are 0.8. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Oral health assessment Tool | Change from baseline oral health status at Day 3, and Day 7 | The Oral health assessment Tool consists of 8 categories: lips, tongue, gum and tissues, saliva, natural teeth, dentures, oral cleanliness, and dental pain. The scoring is as follows: 0 points for healthy, 1 point for beginning changes in the mouth, and 2 points for unhealthy. The maximum score is 16, with higher scores indicating poorer oral health. |
| Bedside oral examination scale | Change from baseline oral health function at Day 3, and Day 7 | The bedside oral examination scale comprises 8 categories: swallow, lips, tongue, mucous membranes, saliva, gingiva, teeth or dentures, and odor. Each category is scored as follows: 1 point for severe dysfunction, 2 points for moderate dysfunction, and 3 points for normal. A total score of 24 indicates a normal oral health status, while a score of 8 indicates severe oral health dysfunction. |
Countries
Taiwan
Contacts
Primary ContactKuan Wen Lai
Outcome results
None listed