Using of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Patient With Hemodialysis to Improve the Effect of Pruritus and Sleep Disorders

Background and Purpose:

Itching is a common complication of hemodialysis patients, which can cause skin damage and affect the patient's comfort. Studies have shown that olive oil is feasible and effective for pain relief, cancer treatment, stroke and cardiovascular disease, as well as wound healing and skin care because it is readily available, natural, and has merely no side effects, and there is no research application on the skin itchiness in hemodialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of applying extra virgin olive oil to improve skin itching, sleep quality and changes in heart rate variability in hemodialysis patients.

Research method:

This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial (RCT), which is divided into two groups, the experimental group and the control group. Before the interventional measures, a questionnaire pre-test and HRV test are given first, and the interventional measures are given. During the period, in addition to routine care, both groups of patients used a brown roller ball glass bottle containing extra virgin olive oil or normal saline on the itchy skin every 12 hours gently and evenly smeared with fingers , for 28 days, and on the 14th day and 28 days.After intervention, the post-questionnaire test and HRV test were carried out. The research tools include: 5-D 5-D itch scale, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) detector.The data collection results were archived with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software, and the data were processed and analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi-square test, generalized estimating equation (GEE) and independent sample t test.

Expected results: Result showed using extra virgin olive oil can improvement of skin itchiness and sleep quality in hemodialysis patients, and also cost effectiveness of lotions , reduction of drugs burden on kidneys and improvement of patients' quality of life.