The effect of baby oil applied to pruritus areas on pruritus, fatigue and anxiety in cirrhosis patients with pruritus

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of baby oil on pruritus, anxiety and fatigue levels of patients with liver cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted with 60 patients hospitalized in the internal medicine clinic of a University hospital in the western part of Turkey. Patients in both groups; Patient Information Form, 5-D Itch Scale, Visual Analog Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied. In the intervention group, cooled baby oil was applied to the itching area 15 minutes at a time for a duration of 15 days. In the control group, no baby oil was applied. After 15 days’ period, the same questionnaires were re-applied to the both groups. 5-D Itch Scale, Visual Analog Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory scores of the patients in the control and intervention groups were compared before and after the baby oil application. Results: Following the intervention, 5-D Itch Scale (19.016, p<0.001), Visual Analog Scale (20.544, p<0.001), Fatigue Severity Scale (6.292, p<0.001) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (4.705, p<0.001) scores were found to be significantly lower compared to the pretest assessment in the intervention group (p<0.001). Conclusion: It was concluded that baby oil may be used as an effective nursing method in reducing pruritus, anxiety and fatigue in patients with liver cirrhosis.