A Contributing Approach to The Management of Pain and Anxiety Associated with Tube Thoracostomy: Chewing Gum

INTRODUCTION: Gum chewing improves the mood of individuals and also relieves stress and anxiety. Considering the vicious circle between anxiety and pain, gum chewing may help to break this circle and control the pain caused by invasive procedures. This study aims to investigate whether chewing gum can help relieving pain and anxiety associated with tube thoracostomy application.
METHODS: A pre-test / post-test control group design was used in this quasi-experimental study, which included 46 patients who were applied tube thoracostomy. The patients were assigned to the gum-chewing group and the control group. Patients' pain and anxiety levels were assessed at the 2nd hour following the analgesic application performed after tube thoracostomy and once again 30 minutes after this assessment. The data were analyzed using percentage, frequency, mean, independent and paired samples t-tests.
RESULTS: There was a difference between the chewing gum group and the control group in terms of changes in pain and anxiety. In the second evaluation made after chewing gum, it was determined that the pain and anxiety levels of the gum chewing group were significantly relieved.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In management of the pain and the anxiety levels resulting from tube thoracostomy, chewing gum may help to eliminate the vicious circle between pain and anxiety and so reduce pain and anxiety. Chewing gum, as a simple and affordable nursing intervention contributing to pain and anxiety management, should be included in care practices for relieving pain and anxiety after thoracic invasive interventions.