1Department of Nursing, Pusan National University 2Department of Nursing, Pusan National University
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 $40^{circ}C$ 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.
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