MedPath

The Effect of Intervention About Dry Mouth and Thirst in Patients With Endotracheal Tube

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Endotracheal Tube
Thirst
Dry Mouth
Interventions
Procedure: 4°C frozen normal saline gauze
Registration Number
NCT06412627
Lead Sponsor
Changhua Christian Hospital
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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
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.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
experimental group4°C frozen normal saline gauzeThe experimental group had 4°C saline-soaked gauze applied to the oral cavity for 15 minutes at 06:00 AM and 06:00 PM daily for one week, while the Oral moisture checker (Mucus, Life Co., Ltd.), the Oral Health Assessment Tool, and the Bedside Oral Exam were used to assess oral mucosal moisture and oral health status before (day 0) and after 7 days.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Oral moisture checking deviceChange 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 Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Bedside oral examination scaleChange 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.

Oral health assessment ToolChange 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.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Changhua Christian Hospital

🇨🇳

Changhua, Taiwan

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath