Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Department of Heart Disease, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark.
Nurs Crit Care. 2018 Mar;23(2):75-81. doi: 10.1111/nicc.12277. Epub 2017 Jan 25.
Because of changes in sedation strategies, more patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are conscious. Therefore, new and challenging tasks in nursing practice have emerged, which require a focus on the problems that patients experience. Thirst is one such major problem, arising because the mechanical ventilator prevents the patients from drinking when they have the urge to do so. To gain a deeper understanding of the patients' experiences and to contribute new knowledge in nursing care, this study focuses on the patients' experiences of thirst during mechanical ventilation (MV) while being conscious.
To explore patients' experience of thirst while being conscious and mechanically ventilated.
This hermeneutic study used qualitative interviews of 12 patients.
Data were analyzed based on content analysis. Interviews were conducted between September and October 2014 in two large ICUs in Denmark.
Four themes relating to the patients' experiences of thirst during MV were identified: a paramount thirst, a different sense in the mouth, deprivation of the opportunity to quench thirst and difficulties associated with thirst.
Patients associate feelings of desperation, anxiety and powerlessness with the experience of thirst. These feelings have a negative impact on their psychological well-being. A strategy in the ICU that includes no sedation for critically ill patients in need of MV introduces new demands on the nurses who must care for patients who are struggling with thirst.
This study shows that despite several practical attempts to relieve thirst, it remains a paramount problem for the patients. ICU nurses need to increase their focus on issues of thirst and dry mouth, which are two closely related issues for the patients. Communication may be a way to involve the patients, recognize and draw attention to their problem.
由于镇静策略的改变，越来越多的重症监护病房（ICU）患者保持清醒。因此，护理实践中出现了新的、具有挑战性的任务，这些任务需要关注患者所经历的问题。口渴就是这样一个主要问题，因为机械呼吸机阻止了患者在有饮水需求时饮水。为了更深入地了解患者的体验，并为护理提供新的知识，本研究聚焦于清醒机械通气（MV）患者的口渴体验。
探讨清醒机械通气患者的口渴体验。
本解释学研究采用了对 12 名患者的定性访谈。
根据内容分析对数据进行分析。访谈于 2014 年 9 月至 10 月在丹麦的两家大型 ICU 进行。
确定了与 MV 期间患者口渴体验相关的四个主题：极度口渴、口中异样感、剥夺解渴机会和与口渴相关的困难。
患者将口渴的感觉与绝望、焦虑和无力感联系在一起。这些感觉对他们的心理健康产生负面影响。在 ICU 中，对于需要 MV 的危重症患者不进行镇静，这对必须照顾那些正在与口渴作斗争的患者的护士提出了新的要求。
本研究表明，尽管采取了一些缓解口渴的实际措施，但口渴仍然是患者的首要问题。重症监护病房的护士需要更加关注口渴和口干这两个密切相关的问题。沟通可能是一种让患者参与、认识和关注他们问题的方式。
