The effect of using warm water and eucalyptus essential oil wipe practice guidelines on fever in patients with pneumonia

Abstract

                                                                                                                ABSTRACT

            This quasi-experimental research aimed to determine the effect of using warm water and eucalyptus essential oil wiping practice guidelines on fever in patients with pneumonia. The sample consisted of 60 patients diagnosed with pneumonia treated at the women's ward, Wapi Pathum Hospital, Mahasarakham Province. Thirty of the patients were in a control group and the others in an experimental group. While the control group received the conventional care, the experimental group received the warm water and eucalyptus essential oil wiping practice guidelines. Data collection was used by measuring body temperatures after each fever; the subjects' body temperatures were read thirty minutes and four times at one-hour intervals. Research instruments included personal data record form and body temperature record form. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, repeated measures ANOVA, and independent t-test.

              The results revealed that 1) the mean score of body temperature in the experimental group had a statistically significant reduction overtime at the level of .05 2) the mean score of body temperature in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group at the level of 0.05, and 3) The experimental group had the interval time of the next fever longer than the control group.

Keywords:  Guidelines, fever, tepid sponge, eucalyptus essential oil