Providing mechanical bathing (MB) is a commonly used strategy to maintain cleanness and comfort in patients with terminally illness. However, extra devices, costs, and human resources are required for such service. There is also a lack of evidence systematically examining the benefits of using MB. These extra financial and resource burden and insufficient evidence limit the use of MB in hospice clinical settings. The aim of this study is to examine whether more frequent MB can improve hospice patients' and their caregivers' comfort. The study has two phases. The first preparation phase is for questionnaire translation and piloting. The second phase is a randomized controlled trail in which adult hospice patients admitted to a hospice unit will be randomly assigned to intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group will be provided MB every other day for a week while participants in the control group receive routine care (using MB once a week). The primary outcome is patients' level of comfort as measured by questionnaire and physical indicators. The secondary outcome is caregivers' emotional burden. Data collection will occur before, during, and after the intervention. The estimation sample sizes for the two phases are 200-250 and 80, respectively. Descriptive analysis and generalized estimating equations will be employed to analyze data. The results of this study will fully recognize the short-term and long-term effects of MB. This understanding can then serve as a foundation to standardize the frequency of providing MB and justify for the resources needed for providing MB.
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Physical comfort part-1
Timeframe: Data collection occurs at four points: baseline (within 1 week after admission, before first MB), T1 (within 2 hrs after second MB), T2 (within 2 hrs after third MB), and T3 (one week after baseline).
Physical comfort part-2
Timeframe: Data collection occurs at two points: baseline (within 1 week after admission, before first MB) and T3 (one week after baseline).
Agitation
Timeframe: Data collection occurs at four points: baseline (within 1 week after admission, before first MB), T1 (within 2 hrs after second MB), T2 (within 2 hrs after third MB), and T3 (one week after baseline).
Physiological and psychological comfort
Timeframe: Data collection occurs at four points: baseline (within 1 week after admission, before first MB), T1 (within 2 hours after second MB), T2 (within 2 hours after third MB), and T3 (one week after baseline).
Psychospiritual, sociocultural and environmental comfort
Timeframe: Data collection occurs at four points: baseline (within 1 week after admission, before first MB), T1 (within 2 hrs after second MB), T2 (within 2 hrs after third MB), and T3 (one week after baseline).