ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to explore the effect of an essential oil solution on levels of malodour and production of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) in patients nursed in intensive care unit (ICU). Thirty two patients received 3 min of oral cleaning using an essential oil solution (mixture of tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, peppermint, Mentha piperita and lemon, Citrus limon) on the first day, and Tantum (benzydamine hydrochloride) on the second day. Two trained nurses measured the level of malodour with a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) and VSC with a Halimeter before (Pre), 5 min after (Post I) and 1 h following treatment (Post II). The level of oral malodour was significantly different following the essential oil session, and differed significantly between two sessions at Post I (p < 0.005) and Post II (p < 0.001). Differences between the two sessions were significant (Tantum, p < 0.001; essential oil, p < 0.001) in the level of VSC and significantly lower in the essential oil session than Tantum at the Post II (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that mouth care using an essential oil mixture of diluted tea tree, peppermint and lemon may be an effective method to reduce malodour and VSC in intensive care unit patients.
Subject(s)
Halitosis/drug therapy , Mouthwashes/therapeutic use , Phytotherapy , Plant Oils/therapeutic use , Plants, Medicinal , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Benzydamine , Citrus , Critical Care , Female , Halitosis/pathology , Humans , Male , Melaleuca , Mentha , Middle Aged , Mouthwashes/administration & dosage , Pain Measurement , Plant Oils/administration & dosage , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of the paper is to discover the patterns and processes of decision-making in clinical nursing practice. METHODS: A set of think-aloud data from five critical care nurses during 40 to 50 minutes of caregiving in intensive care units were obtained and analyzed by applying the procedures recommended by Ericsson and Simon for protocol analysis. RESULTS: Four thinking processes before acting were identified to constitute various sorts of thoughts in which the nurses were engaged during patient care: reviewing, validation, consideration, rationalization, and action. In addition, three patterns of sequential streaming of thinking (short, intermediate, long) were identified to reveal various ways the nurses dealt with clinical situations involving nursing tasks and responsibilities. CONCLUSION: This study specifies the initial categories of thoughts for each of the processes and various patterns with which these processes are sequentially combined, providing insights into the ways nurses think about problems and address their concerns. The findings suggest that the thinking in clinical practice involves more than focused decision-making and reasoning, and needs to be examined from a broader perspective.
