Introduction The major salivary glands can be stimulated by chewing gum to increase saliva flow and decrease xerostomia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chewing gum on dry mouth, interdialytic weight gain, and intradialytic symptoms in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods This prospective randomized controlled single‐blind study was conducted with patients who had been treated for at least 6 months with sessions 3 days a week for 4 hours at two HD units. Patients were randomly allocated to chewing gum group or the control group. In the chewing gum group, gum was chewed for 10 minutes six times a day, and when the patients felt mouth dryness or were thirsty. In the nonchewing gum group, gum was not chewed. The patients were followed‐up for 3 months. A total of three saliva samples were taken before starting treatment at the first, 12th, and 36th HD session. Data were collected with the “Visual Analogue Scale (VAS),” “Hemodialysis Patients Fluid Control Scale,” “Dialysis Symptom Index,” and “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale” at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12. Findings The study was completed with a total of 44 patients consisting of 22 patients in the each group. The second and third month VAS values (xerostomia) of the patients in the chewing gum groups were statistically significantly lower than those in the control group (P = 0.014, P < 0.001, respectively). The third month salivary flow rate in the chewing gum group was higher than the values in the control group patients (P < 0.001). Discussion It is anticipated that this study will raise nurses' awareness of dry mouth and encourage future studies on interventions to increase the salivary flow rate to prevent or treat dry mouth.
Background Intensive care is a noisy environment for patients and one that affects pain, anxiety levels, and sleep quality. Aims and objectives To determine the relationship between noise levels and pain, anxiety, and sleep levels in patients in intensive care units. Design A descriptive and observational study design was used. Methods This study was conducted between June and December 2018 in a public hospital and included 111 patients admitted to surgical critical care for at least 24 hours. Three Benetech Gm1351 manual sound level metres were used to measure noise. A Patient Information Form, a pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Spielberger State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) were used for data collection. Results The mean age of the patients was 57.29 years. The mean noise level detected in the intensive care unit was 66.52 dB (dB). Patients' mean pain VAS score was 3.79 ± 1.72, the mean State Anxiety Inventory score was 39.74 ± 2.98, and the mean total RCSQ score was 25.10 ± 13.17. Our findings show that patients in the intensive care unit are exposed to high noise levels and that, while this has no effect on pain, it significantly impacts anxiety and quality of sleep. Conclusions Noise levels in intensive care units significantly exceed recommended thresholds, and this adversely affects patients' anxiety levels and sleep quality. It is important for suitably restful conditions to be provided for patients, to be aware of the potential for anxiety, and for these factors to be borne in mind when planning nursing interventions. Relevance to clinical practice Further studies on the effects of noise levels on pain, anxiety, and sleep levels in patients admitted to intensive care units are needed.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lavender oil inhalation on the anxiety and comfort levels of patients scheduled for colonoscopy. Seventy-three experimental group patients scheduled for colonoscopy at a training and research hospital in the west of Turkey in June to September 2022 and 72 control group patients were included in this randomized, controlled, prospective study. Minimal sedation (propofol 2–3 mg/kg) was applied in both groups. Lavender inhalation was applied to the experimental group, whereas the control group patients received nursing care (vital sign monitoring, prevention of complications, and rest). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Shortened General Comfort Questionnaire were used for pre- and postprocedural data collection. Median ages were 53.00 years (47.25–59.00) in the experimental group patients and 51.00 (44.00–59.5) in the control group. Although postprocedural state anxiety scores were lower in the experimental group compared with the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (p = .069). The general postcolonoscopy comfort score was significantly higher in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < .001). Trait anxiety scores also increased as the number of colonoscopies increased in both groups. We conclude that lavender oil inhalation, a simple and inexpensive intervention, increases patient comfort while exhibiting a positive, albeit statistically insignificant, effect on anxiety.
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