Strategies for thirst relief: integrative literature review - Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to analyze the strategies used to relieve the thirst of hospitalized patients.

Method:

an integrative review, for which the databases PubMed, LILACS, CINAHL and the group of references organized by the Group for Study and Research of Thirst were selected for the search of primary studies, with the keywords: thirst, ice, cold, intervention, nursing care, artificial saliva.

Results:

the review sample was composed of ten primary studies. The strategies found were: low temperature using frozen gauze, ice chips, and cold water, menthol associated with cold strategies, chewing gum, acupressure, and the use of a thin straw, substitute saliva, and early fluid ingestion.

Conclusion:

the temperature was presented as a predominant and effective strategy to relieve the thirst for surgical patients in intensive care and hemodialysis treatment.