The Effects of Blanket Application on Reducing Cold Discomfort after Cesarean Section

Kim, Myung Hee; Kim, Ju Sung

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the changes in cold discomfort according to the type of blanket used after surgery.
Methods
Women scheduled for Cesarean Section were divided into two groups. After the surgery, 30 patients were covered with a warming blanket which was set at 40degree C by the warmer and the other 30 patients were covered with an ordinary blanket. Both group's cold discomfort was measured at 5 time points using a mercury thermometer, shivering scale, and subjective thermal sensation scale. Data were analyzed by using mean scores with t-test, paired t-test using the SPSS/WIN program. RESULT: At 30 min after being covered with the blanket, the axillary temperature had returned to the pre-operation temperature in both groups. At 45 min after being covered with the blanket, the women in the warming blanket group had no further shivering but for those in the ordinary blanket group shivering continued. At 45 min after being covered with the blanket, the women in the warming blanket group had returned to the condition before surgery. but those in the ordinary blanket group continued to complain of cold sensation.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that use of a warming blanket helps to relieve cold discomfort following surgery. This study is also expected to enhance understanding of the importance of subjective data by exploring the difference between subjective complaints and objective data about cold discomfort.