Effect of frozen saline and menthol gum on thirst level after abdominal surgery

Aim: The study was conducted to determine effect of frozen saline and menthol gum on thirst level after abdominal surgery. Material and Method: The research was conducted between March 2020 and July 2021 using simultaneous mixed design covering quantitative and qualitative research methods. Study population consisted of patients aged 18 years and over, had undergone abdominal surgery in İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center General Surgery and Liver Transplant Institute Intensive Care Units. With the power analysis, 159 patients (53 frozen saline, 53 menthol gum, 53 control) were included in the sampling. Patient Information Form, FOUR Score, Safe Protocol for Early Postoperative Thirst Management and NRS were used to collect data. Frozen saline was applied twice for 10 minutes to the patients in the frozen saline group. The patients in the menthol group were chewed menthol gum twice for 10 minutes. Patients' thirst levels before and at the 30th and 60th minutes after each intervention were evaluated with NRS. Data were evaluated with Number, Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation, Pearson's chi-square, One-Way ANOVA, rANOVA and Bonferroni Post-Hoc test. Qualitative data were evaluated with thematic analysis method. Results: Patients' thirst level in the frozen saline and menthol gum group was lower than the control group at all times. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p=0.000). Frozen saline and menthol gum had no superiority over each other in terms of quenching thirst (p=1.000). After the interventions, patients reported that they felt well intensely. Conclusion: Frozen saline and menthol gum were found to be effective in quenching thirst after abdominal surgery. Keywords: Abdominal surgery, Frozen saline, Nurse, Menthol gum, Thirst