The Effect of Ice Chip Containing Menthol on Thirst in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Background and

Thirst is one of the most common problems in patients undergoing hemodialysis, which stimulates the patient to consume more fluids, causes weight gain between two dialysis, reduces quality of life, and leads to many other problems. Therefore, due to the necessity of using thirst management methods, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of ice chip containing menthol on the thirst of patients undergoing hemodialysis.

In this clinical trial study, 60 patients of Birjand dialysis centers were selected considering study criteria using convenience sampling. The patients were randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups. The experimental group consumed 12 pieces of ice chips containing menthol every day for one week and the control group did not receive any intervention. Questionnaires of intensity of thirst, discomfort of thirst, duration of thirst, and dry mouth were completed before each dialysis session during the week before the intervention and during the intervention, and the volume of fluids consumed was measured and recorded in a daily checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS V15  applying independent t-test, paired t-test, x2 and Fisher exact test at the significance level of P<0.05.

The results showed that in the experimental group, the mean score of duration of thirst, intensity of thirst, dry mouth, thirst discomfort, volume of fluids consumed, and number of thirsts had a significant decrease after the intervention compared to before it (P= 0.0001). The mean score changes of thirst duration, thirst intensity, dry mouth, thirst distress, fluid consumption, and number of thirsts in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group (P=0.0001).

Considering the effect of ice chip containing menthol on the thirst of dialysis patients, the use of this simple, applicable, and low-cost method is recommended for thirst management.