ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This experimental study was to verify the effects of the mineral oil on skin under casts for relief of skin dryness and pruritus. METHOD: Participants in the study were inpatients at C university hospital in D city who had long leg casts. The mineral oil was applied to the skin under the casts in the experimental group of 18patients and was not applied to the control group, also 18 patients. During the experimentation, the participants in the experimental group were informed about how to apply the mineral oil and 1 week later were responsible for applying the oil themselves. The oil was applied three times a day. Data collection was done from July 28, 2002 to September 28, 2002. The analyses were carried using frequencies, percentages, x2-test, t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS WIN 10.0 program. RESULTS: Hypothesis 1, 'The experimental group using the mineral oil application showed remarkably less dryness in the skin compared to the control group' was accepted (F=16.39, P=0.000). Hypothesis 2, 'The experimental group using the mineral oil application showed remarkably less pruritus compared to the control group' was accepted (F=34.01, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that mineral oil application to skin under casts was effective in treating skin dryness and pruritus. Accordingly, it is concluded that mineral oil application to skin under casts can be an effective nurse intervention to treat skin dryness and pruritus.