Which bath is better? Evaluating comfort and vital signs in pediatric intensive care unit: A quasi-experimental study
Esra Ardahan Akgül1, Beste Özgüven Öztornacı1, Esat Erdem Gökpınar2
1İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pediatric Nursing, İzmir, Türkiye.
Insights
Traditional bathing significantly enhances comfort in pediatric intensive care patients, unlike wiping baths which can decrease comfort and alter vital signs. Nurses should consider traditional bathing for improved patient well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Intensive Care
- Nursing Care
- Patient Comfort
Background:
- Bathing is essential for skin cleansing and stimulating circulation.
- Two common methods in intensive care are traditional baths (in-bed running water) and wiping baths (warm, damp cloths).
- The study aimed to compare the effects of these bathing methods on pediatric intensive care patients' vital signs and comfort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the effect of traditional versus wiping baths on pediatric intensive care patients' vital parameters.
- To assess the impact of both bathing methods on patient comfort levels.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental prospective study was conducted with two groups: traditional bath (n=28) and wiping bath (n=26).
- Vital signs and comfort levels were measured immediately before and 5 minutes after bathing.
Main Results:
- The traditional bathing group reported significantly higher comfort levels (4.929 times more).
- The wiping bath group showed a significant decrease in pulse rate and body temperature post-bath.
- No significant differences were observed in other vital parameters between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Traditional bathing improves comfort in pediatric intensive care patients, while wiping bathing may decrease comfort and affect certain vital signs.
- Nurses can use these findings to select appropriate bathing methods based on the child's condition.
- Traditional bathing is recommended for routine care when clinically feasible.
Background:
Bathing cleanses the skin, and the wiping and scrubbing movements during bathing stimulate blood circulation and help oxygenate tissues. There are two types of baths commonly used in intensive care: the traditional bath is washing the child with running water in the bed, and the wiping bathis wiping the child with warm, damp cloths. We planned this study to determine the effect of traditional and wiping baths on vital parameters (pulse rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, body temperature, mean blood pressure) and comfort of children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Methods:
In this quasi-experimental prospective study, there were two groups, the traditional bath group (n = 28) and the wiping bath group (n = 26).Comfort levels and vital signs were measured just before and 5 min after the bathing.
Findings:
We found that the mean blood pressure of the wiping bath group was higher.The pulse rate and body temperature in the wiping bath group decreased significantly after the bath.No significant differences were found in other vital parameters.Those in the traditional bathing group were 4.929 times more comfortable than those in the wiping bath group.
Conclusion:
This study showed that while traditional bathing increases comfort in pediatric intensive care patients, wiping bathing decreases comfort and creates different effects on some vital parameters.Based on the results, nurses may decide on the type of bath to choose for children.
Implications To Practice:
It is recommended that nurses incorporate traditional bathing into routine care practices as long as the child's clinical condition permits.
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