Application of Peppermint Water Spray Combined With Cucumber Slice External Application or Lip Balm and Conventional Dipping in ICU Dry Mouth Patients

Abstract

To analyze the effect of peppermint water spray combined with external application of cucumber slice or lip balm and conventional dipping in patients with dry mouth in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: 120 patients with secondary xerostomia in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected as the subjects. According to the different treatment methods, the patients were divided into A group (Peppermint water spray combined with cucumber slices for external application), group B (Peppermint water spray combined with lip gloss smear), group C (cotton swab dipped in normal saline), 40 cases in each group, and the saliva secretion and dry mouth before and after intervention in three groups were compared between the three groups. The degree of self-evaluation score and the evaluation of throat comfort and satisfaction after intervention. Results: after the intervention, the self-evaluation scores of salivary secretion and dry mouth degree of patients in group A and B were significantly higher than those before the intervention (P < 0.01), the self-evaluation scores of salivary secretion and dry mouth degree of patients in group A were significantly higher than those in group B and C (P < 0.01), and the self-evaluation scores of salivary secretion and dry mouth degree of patients in group B were significantly higher than those in group C (P < 0.01). After intervention, the total effective rate of improvement of throat comfort in group A was 87.50%, which was significantly higher than 40.00% in group B and 0.00% in group C (P < 0.01). The total effective rate of improvement of throat comfort in group B was significantly higher than that in group C (P < 0.01). 97.50% of the patients in group A were significantly higher than 72.50% in group B and 2.50% in group C (P < 0.01), and the patients in group B were significantly higher than those in group C (P < 0.01). Conclusion: homemade peppermint water spray combined with external application of cucumber spray can effectively improve the symptoms of dry mouth and throat discomfort in patients with ICU, improve their satisfaction with treatment, and is conducive to the recovery of patients' diseases, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.