Determination of the Incidence of Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia, Thermal Comfort, and Factors Affecting Thermal Comfort in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors : Sema Serpil Kılıç, Aynur Koyuncu, Ayla Yava

Pages : 1797-1806

Doi:10.37989/gumussagbil.1412478

View : 21 | Download : 16

Publication Date : 2024-12-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of hypothermia, thermal comfort, and factors affecting thermal comfort in patients undergoing elective surgery during the perioperative period. Conducted between October 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021, this cross-sectional study, approved ethically, involved 306 elective surgery patients. Data, collected during nine perioperative periods (T0-T8) by nurses in surgical wards and operating rooms, used a literature-based form. The reporting of the study utilized the STROBE checklist Statistical analysis with SPSS 22.0 set a significance level of p<0.05. The mean age of the patients was 41.81±16.00, and 74.8% of them were female. The average body temperature of the patients was as follows: during the intraoperative period (T3, T4, T5) (35.87±0.52, 35.31±0.58, 35.64±0.51, respectively) and in the recovery room (T6) (35.56±0.51). Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean body temperature of T3, T4, T5, and T6, and the mean temperature during the preoperative period (T0) (p<0.05). Patients\\\' thermal comfort was compromised during their stay in the recovery room. Factors contributing to the deterioration of patients\\\' thermal comfort included inadequate clothing, insufficient covers, absence of socks on their feet, and frequent uncovering for treatment and care procedures. The findings of this study indicate that patients undergoing elective surgery experienced hypothermia in the intraoperative setting as well as in the recovery room, which can be attributed to impaired thermal comfort during their stay in the recovery room. Keywords: Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia, Nursing, Body Temperature, Thermal Comfort, Shivering
Keywords : Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia, Nursing, Body Temparature, Thermal Comfort, Shivering