• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2011

Purpose: A purpose of this study was to identify the effects of cold water gargling on thirst, oral cavity condition and sore throat in orthopedics surgery patients who underwent general anesthesia. Methods: Pretest-posttest non-synchronized design with a nonequivalent control group was used. A total of 52 participants were conveniently selected and assigned to each group. The experimental group gargled hourly with cold water for 8 hours after operation. The control group received wet gauze as needed. We compared the thirst, oral cavity condition and sore throat at 0, 2, 4 and 8 hours after operation. Results: The score of thirst and oral cavity condition was lower in the experimental group than in the control group. However, there was no significant differences in the levels of sore throat between the experimental and control group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that cold water gargling can be a useful nursing intervention for alleviating thirst and improving oral condition for patients with orthopedic surgery after general anesthesia.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2009

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the moisturizing effect of cold water gargling, wet gauze application and humidification in reducing thirst and mouth dryness after nasal surgery. Method: Patients were randomly assigned into three groups of 19 subjects each. In the two intervention groups, each group was received hourly cold water gargling or wet gauze application for 4 hours postoperatively. In the control group, the subjects were received only humidification continuously on a bedside. We compared the thirst and oral condition at 0, 2, 4hours. after operation. Thirst was measured using VAS questionnaire, and oral condition(mouth dryness) by Oral Assessment Guide. Results: There was a significant difference among three groups in the level of thirst and mouth dryness. In the cold water gargling group, there was a significant decrease in thirst at 2, 4hours. In the wet gauze group, there was a significant decrease in thirst at 4hours. In the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in mouth dryness at 2, 4hours. In the control group, there was a significant decrease in mouth dryness at 4hours. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the cold water gargling would be an effective nursing intervention to reduce thirst and mouth dryness postoperatively.