Effectiveness of a novel approach to managing dry mouth in palliative care

INTERVENTION: To demonstrate the efficacy of mini mint ice cubes in relieving perceptions of thirst and dry mouth for patients receiving specialist palliative care. The participants will be offered usual mouth care (including mouth swabs and lip balm with plain water ice cubes) or the intervention (3 mini mint ice cubes of 1cm3) mouth care by palliative care nurses for a 24 hour period as requested. They will be asked to verbally rate the intensity of their dry mouth and asked to rate the distress of the symptom, both using a 10‐point scale. After 24 hours standard mouth care, the intervention will be swapped over (in adjacent 24 hour window), and the participants will be asked to rate their dry mouth and the distress of the thirst symptom. 24 hours after finishing the intervention study, the participants will be asked their preferences in mouth care interventions. CONDITION: Dry Mouth;Palliative Care; ; Dry Mouth ; Palliative Care Oral and Gastrointestinal ‐ Normal oral and gastrointestinal development and function PRIMARY OUTCOME: Change in dry mouth intensity/discomfort.; ; During the study participants will be asked to rate their dry mouth score on a scale 0‐10. This will occur pre and post mouth care, up to four to six times a day. They will also be asked which mouth care they preferred at the end of the study. [48 hours post commencement of the study ] Change in the degree of thirst ; ; During the study participants will be asked to rate their dry mouth score on a scale 0‐10. This will occur pre and post mouth care, up to four to six times a day. They will also be asked which mouth care they preferred at the end of the study. [48 hours post commencement of the study ] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Patient preference for plain or mini mint ice cubes. ; ; This will be determined by a face to face interview.[48 hours post commencement of the study ] Staff Satisfaction with mini – mint ice cubes. ; ; This will be determined by a staff questionnaire using an online survey tool[1 week post completion of the study ] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Age > 18 years admitted to Laurel Hospice, FMC. Able to report thirst intensity or distress Safe swallow and alert AKPS > 30