J Korean Clin Nurs Res.  2023 Apr;29(1):67-74. 10.22650/JKCNR.2023.29.1.67.

The Effect of Warm Scarf on Postoperative Xerostomia and Sore Throat in Colon Cancer Patients

• Choi SY
• Lee GE
• Yoon BR
• Yoon JS
• Chung SY

• KMID: 2549583
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2023.29.1.67

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify the effect of warm scarf on xerostomia and sore throat in postoperative colon cancer patients.
Methods
A total of 40 participants with colon cancer who underwent colon cancer operation over 2hours were included from C University hospital in Seoul. The number of experimental group and control group is each 20 calculated by G*Power, and they were assigned by using nonequivalent control group no-synchronized design. In the experimental group, a warm scarf was applied to the neck for 120 minutes from entering the recovery room after the colorectal cancer surgery was completed. In the experimental group and the control group, xerostomia and sore throat were measured twice at 60-minute intervals. The degree of xerostomia was measured through the degree of wetness of the absorbent paper in mm, and the degree of sore throat was measured through the NRS (Numeral Rating Scale). Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires from August 2018 to September 2020 and were analyzed using IBM SPSS/WIN 21.0 Descriptive statistics, x² test, Fisher's exact test, t-test were used to determine the participant's characteristics. The effect of warm scarf on xerostomia and sore throat were separately estimated by Repeated Measures ANOVA.
Results
The experimental group showed significant decrease of xerostomia and sore throat as time goes (p<.001).
Conclusion
Results indicate that warm scarf on xerostomia and sore throat in postoperative colon cancer patients is helpful method for relieving side effect of tracheal intubation.

Keyword

Warm; Therapy; Sore Throat; Xerostomia; Colon Cancer