껌씹기가 개복수술 환자의 장운동 회복과 구강불편감에 미치는 효과

The Effects of Gum-Chewing on the Recovery of Bowel Movement and Oral Cavity Discomfort after Abdominal Surgery

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the effects of gum-chewing on the recovery of bowel movement and oral cavity discomfort after abdominal surgery. Method: The nonequivalent control group, non-syncronized repeated treatment design was used. A total of 99 patients were participated in the study. The 44 patients were in the experimental group and the rest in the control group. The experimental group chewed gum three times a day until they passed gas. As the patient reported gas-passing, bowel movement time, subjective symptoms of oral cavity, and oral status were recorded precisely. The frequency, percentage, $x^2$-test and t-test were analyzed by SPSS PC 12.0. Results: There were significant differences in bowel movement, gas passing, oral cavity symptoms, and oral status scores between the experimental and the control group. Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated the fact that gum-chewing helps early recovery from post-operative ileus and thirst. It is because gum chewing stimulates bowel mobility and secretion of saliva. Thus gum-chewing seems to be an effective nursing intervention in reducing post-operative side effects for patients with abdominal surgery.