Prospective, Randomized, Pilot Study Evaluating the Effect of Ice Chips Administration versus None on the Bitterness of Crushed Medications in Postoperative Bariatric Patients

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Background: Providing bariatric patients medications postoperatively is challenging. Research is warranted to determine a method to improve patient perception of crushed medication bitterness and/or taste. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test whether a nursing intervention of administering ice chips to postoperative bariatric patients' tongues before and after administering crushed medications would result in improved patient perception of bitterness and/or taste. Methods: In this pilot, prospective study, 100 adult subjects were randomized to either the intervention group (ice chips intervention) or the control group (no ice chips). Intervention-group subjects provided pre- and post-ice scores for bitterness and taste on a validated 5-point categorical scale (bitterness: 1 = “least bitter,”, 2 = “less bitter,” 3 = “neutral,” 4 = “more bitter,” 5 = “most bitter”; taste: 1 = “least unpleasant,” 2 = “less unpleasant,” 3 = “neutral,” 4 = “more unpleasant,” 5 = “most unpleasant”). Control-group subjects provided ratings after medication administration only. The Institutional Review Board approved this study. Subjects provided informed consent. Results: Fifty subjects were in each study group, and the majority were female Caucasians. In the intervention group, as a result of the ice chips intervention, there was a 1.16-point mean reduction in bitterness (3.66 to 2.62; t = 5.32, p < 0.0001) and a 1.04 improvement in taste (3.86 to 2.70; t = 4.72, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The hypothesis of this study was met, as the ice chips intervention procedure provided to patients before and after crushed medication administration significantly improved bitterness and taste. Nurses can implement this procedure to improve bariatric patient medication experiences postoperatively.