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Thirst in critical patients and its associated factors
Laura Vicentim Berbert1, Isadora Pierotti1, Leonel Alves do Nascimento1
1Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Objectives:
to assess prevalence, intensity, discomfort, defining characteristics of thirst and signs of oral mucosa hydration in Intensive Care Unit patients.
Methods:
quantitative and analytical study, carried out in a tertiary hospital in six of the seven Intensive Care Units, with a sample of 60 patients. Variables related to thirst were analyzed according to their nature.
Results:
prevalence of thirst was 76.7%, with a mean intensity of 7.2. The main Objective Oral Mucosa Scale score was 2 (61.7%), corresponding to dry lips and moist mouth. Prevalent defining characteristics were thick saliva (80%), constant swallowing of saliva (76.7%), desire to drink water (75%), dry lips (73.3%) and dry throat (70%). Positive correlations were identified between scales and thirst intensity, water restriction and hospitalization duration.
Conclusions:
the statistically significant correlations reflect the complexity and multifactorial nature of thirst, demonstrating the need to use identification and measurement instruments in the critical population.
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