An interventional study of Cold water spray in Swallowing Difficulties, Thirst and Thyroidectomy, sponsored by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gulhane Tip Fakultesi. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-20.
Sponsored by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gulhane Tip Fakultesi · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
Dysphagia and thirst are common in the early period after thyroidectomy and negatively affect patient comfort. This study aims to evaluate the effect of cold water spray on dysphagia, pain during swallowing, and thirst after thyroid surgery. In this randomized controlled trial, patients will be divided into two groups. Patients in the experimental group (n=54) will receive +4 °C cold water sprayed into the mouth once every hour for 6 hours postoperatively, while the control group (n=54) will receive routine care. In both groups, data will be collected hourly for 6 hours.
Thyroidectomy is a common surgical procedure, and dysphagia caused by edema and mechanical trauma frequently occurs in the early postoperative period. This condition may reduce patient satisfaction and prolong recovery. Thirst, which patients describe as a highly distressing experience, begins with preoperative fasting and fluid restriction and may persist into the postoperative period. Unrelieved thirst is perceived as more severe than other postoperative discomforts. Managing these symptoms through nursing interventions is therefore important for postoperative comfort. This study aims to evaluate the effect of cold water spray on dysphagia, pain during swallowing, and thirst after thyroid surgery.
The study will conduct as a prospective randomized controlled trial. After obtaining verbal and written consent from the patients before and after the surgery, the study will conduct with various data collection forms.
These forms are; Descriptive Information Form, Symptom Assessment Form, Perioperative Thirst Discomfort Scale forms will use.
Thyroidectomy will perform and all cases meeting the inclusion criteria will evaluate. Patients will randomize. The cold water spray will apply in group I (n=54), and group II (n=54) will be the control group.
Patients in Group I will receive +4 °C cold water sprayed into the mouth once every hour for 6 hours postoperatively. Group II will be the control group. In both groups, data will be collected hourly for 6 hours using the Symptom Assessment Form and the Perioperative Thirst Discomfort Scale.
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This study's planned enrollment of 108 is above the median of 60 across 482 interventional studies indexed under Deglutition Disorders.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Patients in Group I will receive +4 °C cold water sprayed into the mouth once every hour for 6 hours after thyroid surgery. Dysphagia, pain during swallowing, thirst, and dry mouth will be assessed hourly using the Symptom Assessment Form, and thirst discomfort will be assessed using the Perioperative Thirst Discomfort Scale
Other: Cold water spray
Patients in Group II will receive routine postoperative nursing care. No cold water application will be performed. Dysphagia, pain during swallowing, thirst, and dry mouth will be assessed hourly for 6 hours using the Symptom Assessment Form, and thirst discomfort will be assessed using the Perioperative Thirst Discomfort Scale
+4 °C cold water will be sprayed into the patient's mouth once every hour for 6 hours postoperatively. Symptoms will be assessed hourly using the Symptom Assessment Form and the Perioperative Thirst Discomfort Scale
Swallowing Difficulty Severity
Dysphagia severity will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in the Symptom Assessment Form. Scores range from 0 (none) to 10 (very severe); higher scores indicate greater severity
Time frame: Hourly for 6 hours postoperatively
Pain During Swallowing
Pain during swallowing will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in the Symptom Assessment Form. Scores range from 0 (none) to 10 (very severe); higher scores indicate greater severity
Time frame: Hourly for 6 hours postoperatively
Thirst Intensity
Thirst intensity will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in the Symptom Assessment Form. Scores range from 0 (none) to 10 (very severe); higher scores indicate greater severity
Time frame: Hourly for 6 hours postoperatively
Dry Mouth Severity
Dry mouth severity will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in the Symptom Assessment Form. Scores range from 0 (none) to 10 (very severe); higher scores indicate greater severity
Time frame: Hourly for 6 hours postoperatively
Perioperative Thirst Discomfort
Thirst discomfort will be assessed using the Perioperative Thirst Discomfort Scale. The scale consists of 7 items scored from 0 to 2, with total scores ranging from 0 to 14; higher scores indicate greater thirst discomfort
Time frame: Hourly for 6 hours postoperatively
Plan to share: No
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Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gulhane Tip Fakultesi