Effectiveness of a Thirst Care Bundle on Postoperative Thirst Relief and Oral Health among Patients Who have Undergone Abdominal Surgery: A True Experimental Study

Background and Aim: Postoperative thirst is a frequently encountered yet under-recognized concern among surgical patients, particularly those undergoing abdominal procedures. Nil per os status, anesthetic agents, medications, and fluid restrictions contribute significantly to thirst and oral discomfort. Despite its prevalence, postoperative thirst is rarely addressed adequately in routine nursing care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured thirst care bundle in relieving postoperative thirst intensity and improving oral health among patients who have undergone abdominal surgery. Materials and Methods: A true experimental pretest–posttest control group design was used with 104 abdominal surgery patients randomly assigned to experimental ( n = 52) and control ( n = 52) groups. The intervention group received a two-phase thirst care bundle of oral wetting with sterile gauze, cold water spray, and lip moisturization at 3-h intervals. The control group received standard care. Thirst intensity and oral dryness were measured using the numerical rating scale and Challacombe Scale, respectively. Results: Overall, 100 patients completed the study. Postintervention, 30% of experimental group participants reported no thirst, and 70% reported mild thirst, whereas 76% of the control group experienced moderate thirst and 22% severe thirst ( P = 0.001). The experimental group showed significantly lower thirst and oral dryness scores postintervention ( P = 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between thirst and oral dryness in the control group, but not in the experimental group. Conclusion: A structured thirst care bundle effectively reduces postoperative thirst and oral dryness. Integrating this into routine care can promote comfort, recovery, and satisfaction.