Comparing levels of anxiety during bed and shower baths in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Effectiveness of bed bath methods for skin integrity, skin cleanliness and comfort enhancement in adults: A systematic review

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of bed bath methods for skin integrity, skin cleanliness and comfort enhancement in adults.

Design

A systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines.

Methods

We searched for quantitative studies published between 2004–2020, using the PubMed, MEDLINE and CINAHL. The remaining 25 studies were appraised by the JBI tool.

Results

Only four of the included studies were of high quality. Studies of above moderate quality demonstrated that disposable towels were as effective as cotton towels for skin lesions and bacterial removal. Applying a hot towel maintained the skin barrier function and provided warmth; cotton towels were effective for cleaning even with weak pressure, and post‐bed bath moisturizer treatment contributed to skin integrity.

Conclusion

Although various methods have been examined, the available evidence is inadequate for establishing best practices. It is necessary to verify empirical research with rigorous methodology involving elderly inpatients and to develop instruments that measure patients' comfort.

The Effect of Two Bed Bath Practices in Cost and Vital Signs of Critically Ill Patients

By promoting personal hygiene and improving comfort, bed baths can decrease the risk of infection and help maintain skin integrity in critically ill patients. Current bed-bathing practices commonly involve the use of either soap and water (SAW) or disposable wipes (DWs). Previous research has shown both bed-bathing methods are equally effective in removing dirt, oil, and microorganisms. This experimental study compared the cost, staff satisfaction, and effects of two bed-bathing practices on critically ill patients' vital signs. We randomly assigned 138 participants into 2 groups: an experimental group that received bed baths using DWs and a control group that received bed baths using SAW. We compared the bath duration, cost, vital sign trends, and nursing staff satisfaction between the two groups. We used the chi-square test and t-test for the statistical analysis, and we expressed the quantitative data as mean and standard deviation. Our results showed the bed baths using DWs had a shorter duration and lower cost than those using SAW. There were no significant differences in the vital sign trends between the two groups. The nursing staff preferred to use DWs over SAW. This study can help clinical nursing staff decide which method to use when assisting patients with bed baths.

Effect on autonomic nervous activity of applying hot towels for 10 s to the back during bed baths

BACKGROUND

Bed baths are a daily nursing activity to maintain patients' hygiene. Those may provide not only comfort but also relaxation. Notably, applying a hot towel to the skin for 10 s (AHT10s) during bed baths helped to reduce the risk of skin tears and provided comfort and warmth in previous studies. However, it is still unclear whether autonomic nervous system is affected by bed baths. Thus, this study investigated the effect on the autonomic nervous activity of applying hot towels for 10 s to the back during bed baths.

METHODS

This crossover study had 50 participants (25 men and women each; average age 22.2 ± 1.6 years; average body mass index 21.4 ± 2.2 kg/m2) who took bed baths with and without (control condition: CON) AHT10s on their back. Skin temperature, heart rate variability (HRV), and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Subjective evaluations and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in Japanese were also performed.

RESULTS

A significant interaction of time and bed bath type on skin surface temperature was observed (p < .001). Regarding the means of skin surface temperature at each measurement time point, those for AHT10s were significantly higher than those for CON. Although the total state-anxiety score significantly decreased in both the bed bath types after intervention, the mean values of comfort and warmth were higher for bed baths with AHT10s than for CON (p < .05) during bed baths; AHT10s was significantly higher in warmth than CON after 15 min (p = .032). The interaction and main effects of time on HRV and BP and that of bed bath type were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Bed baths that involved AHT10s caused participants to maintain a higher skin temperature and warmer feeling than under the wiping-only condition; they also provided comfort during the interventions. However, the bed baths with AHT10s did not allow participants to reach a relaxed state; moreover, there was no change in autonomic nerve activity. This may be due to participants' increased anxiety from skin exposure and the intervention being limited to one part of the body.

Myocardial oxygen consumption in the bed bath and shower bath in patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Bed and shower hygiene measures are performed by the nursing staff in patients admitted with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Few studies have evaluated the difference in energy consumption between the two types of bath.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse and compare the variation in Heart Rate (HR), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and rate-pressure-product (RPP) between bed and shower bath in ACS patients.

DESIGN

Quantitative, analytical, prospective study.

SETTINGS

This study was conducted in a Coronary Intensive Care Unit, including patients over 18 years admitted for ACS in Killip classes I and II.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The level of myocardial oxygen consumption was assessed by calculating the RPP before, immediately after and 5 minutes after the first bed bath and the first shower bath. Differences in mean RPP before, during and 5 minutes after each body hygiene were compared using the paired-samples Student's t-test.

RESULTS

Seventy patients were included. No important clinical variation was found in HR, SBP and RPP during bed bath and during shower bath. The comparison of HR, SBP and RPP between bed bath and shower showed no statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSION

Bed bath and shower bath did not significantly increase energy expenditure in patients with acute coronary syndrome and there was no difference in energy expenditure between the two types of body hygiene.

Pilot study on benefits of applying a hot towel for 10 s to the skin of elderly nursing home residents during bed baths: Towards safe and comfortable bed baths

This study examined the effects of applying a hot towel to the skin of elderly people for 10 s (AHT10s) during a bed bath. We hypothesized from our previous studies that AHT10s would increase the stratum corneum water content and improve the skin barrier function of the elderly and invited residents (n = 21) of long-term care facilities to participate in this crossover study. Each participant received a bed bath with AHT10s and also a bed bath without hot towel application. The stratum corneum water content and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured during bed bathing sessions and the experience was subjectively evaluated by participants. The TEWL increased significantly when bed bath did not involve AHT10s, but there was no such significant increase when AHT10s was performed. AHT10s also raised the skin surface temperature and provided warmth and comfort to all participants. These results suggest that, in the target population, AHT10s will lead to TEWL advantages and provide warmth and comfort.

Orientação de enfermagem sobre o banho no leito para redução da ansiedade

RESUMOObjetivo:avaliar a efetividade de um protocolo de orientação de enfermagem para redução da ansiedade de pacientes com síndrome coronária aguda, submetidos ao banho no leito e a relação dos sinais vitais com a Ansiedade-Estado.Método:ensaio clínico randomizado. A amostra foi constituída por 120 pacientes. O grupo intervenção recebeu um protocolo de orientação de enfermagem sobre o banho no leito e o grupo controle as informações rotineiras da unidade. A ansiedade foi avaliada por meio do Inventário de Ansiedade-Estado em três momentos: imediatamente após informar ao paciente sobre a necessidade do banho no leito, imediatamente após as intervenções e imediatamente após o banho.Resultados:o grupo intervenção teve uma redução significativamente maior da ansiedade quando comparado ao grupo controle (p<0,001) após a intervenção.Conclusão:a orientação de enfermagem foi efetiva para reduzir a ansiedade dos pacientes com síndrome coronária aguda que se submetem ao banho no leito.

Construção e validação de um manual informativo sobre o banho no leito

OBJETIVO: Construir e validar um manual informativo sobre o banho no leito para pacientes com síndrome coronária aguda. MÉTODOS: O manual informativo foi desenvolvido com base na experiência profissional dos pesquisadores e em levantamento bibliográfico. A versão preliminar do manual foi submetida à validação de conteúdo por dez enfermeiros, utilizando a Técnica de Delphi. A versão final do manual foi validada com 35 pacientes internados na unidade coronariana e que haviam vivenciado ao menos uma vez o banho no leito utilizando escala do tipo Likert. RESULTADOS: O manual informativo foi construído contendo informações sobre o banho no leito e as razões da necessidade deste procedimento. Na primeira fase foram necessárias quatro rodadas para o consenso entre os enfermeiros. Na segunda fase, foi observada uma média de escore superior a 4, sendo considerado como validado. CONCLUSÃO: Foi construído e validado um manual informativo sobre o banho no leito para pacientes com síndrome coronária aguda.

Bed and shower baths: comparing the perceptions of patients with acute myocardial infarction

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To compare the perceptions of patients with acute myocardial infarction concerning bed and shower baths and evaluate how antecedent variables influence their perceptions.

BACKGROUND

Professionals are often oblivious to the fact that, when performing a bed bath, they are manipulating someone else's body and invading someone's privacy and intimacy. This lack of awareness may trigger various responses in patients, such as dissatisfaction and anxiety. Several studies assessing the perceptions of patients when receiving a bed bath, and most are qualitative. Thus, there is a need to quantify these perceptions.

DESIGN

The research was a crossover study.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 71 patients with acute myocardial infarction, admitted to coronary units. Patients were evaluated on two occasions: after their second bed bath and after their second shower bath. A Semantic Differential Scale was constructed and validated prior to data collection.

RESULTS

The perception of patients receiving shower baths was significantly more positive than those of patients receiving bed baths (<0·0001). The only variable that interfered with the general perception of patients was prior hospitalisation (p = 0·0468). Patients who previously experienced a hospitalisation had a less positive perception, concerning both the bed and shower baths, than those who were hospitalised for the first time.

CONCLUSION

The perceptions of patients receiving bed baths were less positive than those of patients receiving shower baths.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The perceptions of patients receiving baths are very important to guiding nursing care and developing strategies to minimise patient dissatisfaction.

Escala de diferencial semântico para avaliação da percepção de pacientes hospitalizados frente ao banho

OBJETIVO: Construir e validar uma escala de diferencial semântico que avalie a percepção dos pacientes em relação ao banho. MÉTODOS: A primeira etapa, constou da construção da escala, conforme os patamares teóricos específicos e a segunda etapa, foi composta por procedimentos de validação fatorial e o cálculo dos coeficientes de confiabilidade da medida. Participaram do estudo de validação 130 pacientes internados em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. RESULTADOS: A medida de diferencial semântico resultante apresentou como produto uma escala bidimensional com coeficientes de confiabilidade alfa Cronbach superiores a 0,90. CONCLUSÃO: A escala pode ser considerada um instrumento válido e confiável para avaliação da percepção dos pacientes frente aos banhos de chuveiro e no leito.