The Impact of Cold Spray Use on Thirst Distress, Dry Mouth, and Fluid Intake in Heart Failure Patients

BACKGROUND: People with heart failure frequently experience dry mouth and thirst. More information is currently needed on the effectiveness of practical interventions in reducing these symptoms. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effect of cold-water spray on thirst distress, dry mouth, and fluid intake in patients with heart failure. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 72 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of heart failure. The patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group that received a cold-water spray-based program or a control group that received routine department care. The program of spraying cold water was implemented for 3 days. The level of thirst distress, dry mouth, and fluid intake was measured at the beginning and end of the 3-day intervention, and the data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the 2 groups showed no significant differences in demographic characteristics, such as age and gender (P > .05). The average scores for thirst and dry mouth distress were also identical. However, after the intervention, the group that received the intervention had significantly lower average scores for thirst distress (20.2 ± 6.9 vs 27.1 ± 8.5, P < .001) and dry mouth distress (3.5 ± 1 vs 5.2 ± 1.2, P < .001) compared with the control group. It is worth noting that there was no significant difference in the average fluid intake between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that cold-water spray effectively reduces thirst distress and dry mouth in patients with heart failure.