Interventional effect of diluted essential balm mouthwash on hemodialysis patients with thirst

Objective To explore the intervention effect of diluted essential balm mouthwash on thirst in hemodialysis patients. Methods A total of 43 patients with thirst who underwent maintenance hemodialysis at the Blood Purification Center of Taihe County People's Hospital （The Taihe Hospital of Wannan Medical College） from March 2023 to May 2023 were recruited. They were randomly divided into Group A （21 cases） and Group B （22 cases） using a random number table method. Group A and Group B were divided into two stages with a cross design, each stage lasting for 2 weeks. After the completion of the first stage, a 2-week washout period was passed, and the intervention methods of the two groups were switched to enter the second stage, with the same steps and methods as the first stage. Before and after the start of the first and second stages, the degree of thirst and thirst pain were assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale （VAS） and the Thirst Distress Scale （TDS）, respectively. The Interdialytic Weight Gain （IDWG） was calculated for statistical processing. Results At the end of the first stage, the VAS score（3.13 ± 2.97）, TDS score（10.14 ± 6.76）, and average IDWG（2.51 ± 1.87） kg score of thirst in Group A were significantly lower than those of Group B （P<0.05）. After a 2-week washout period, in the second stage, the VAS score（6.84 ± 2.15）, TDS score（22.32 ± 4.75）, and average IDWG（3.12 ± 2.47） kg score of group A were significantly higher than those of group B （P<0.05）. Conclusion Diluting orally available essential balm for oral gargling can alleviate thirst and thirst-induced pain in hemodialysis patients, and reduce IDWG. This measure is simple, feasible, cost-effective, and safe, and can be included in the daily habits of patients.