Effect of Implementing Nursing Measures on Thirst Perception among Patients in Chest Intensive Care Unit

Background: Thirst is one of the main stressors that reduce the comfort of critically illpatients connected with a noninvasive laryngeal mask. It can cause significant distress andstress, which can increase oxygen consumption and the metabolic burden of their organs,and may even induce delirium, thus affecting recovery. Aim: The current study aimed toevaluate the effect of implementing nursing measures on thirst perception among patientsin chest intensive care units. Design: A quasi-experimental study design. Setting: Thisstudy was conducted at the Chest Intensive Care Unit in Tanta University Chest Hospitalaffiliated to Tanta University Hospitals. Subjects: A purposive sample of 60 adult patientsadmitted to the previously mentioned setting. Tools: three tools were used in order toobtain the necessary data for this study: Tool I: Patient's Interview Schedule, tool II:Subjective Thirst Perception Scale and tool III: Objective Thirst Assessment Sheet.Results: there was a statistical significant decrease in thirst perception in both control andstudy group on the third day in which p = 0.049* and 0.045* respectively. Additionally,there was statistical significant decrease in thirst perception in control versus study groupon the third day in which p =0.043*. Conclusion: The results of the current studyconcluded that there was a significant decrease of thirst perception among critically illpatients after implementing nursing measures in ICU. Recommendations: It can berecommended that using nursing measures as a part of the daily care in managing patients'complains of thirst in ICU is essentia